Minimum Boot & Shell

[Steven]

I'm pretty new to the whole embedded development area. I'm working on
a project, which initially CE.NET seemed better suiter, then due to
restrictions in the .NET Compact Framework we've had to move to XP
Embedded. Could anybody point me to a tutorial(s) that would allow me
to have the following

Limited display during image boot (ideally just a black screen)

When image has booted - i wish to run a .NET application. at the
minute, a shortcut to this is in the startmenu/startup. but i would
like to do without the windows shell (if posible) and have the
application start from regisrty - ie no windows gui features (the
application runs in fullscreen - and is controled via RF remote / RF
reciever using com port)

I hope this is all clear -

S

 

[KM]

Steven,

Limited display during image boot (ideally just a black screen)

Use /noguiboot switch in boot.ini.

When image has booted - i wish to run a .NET application. at the
minute, a shortcut to this is in the startmenu/startup. but i would
like to do without the windows shell (if posible) and have the
application start from regisrty - ie no windows gui features (the
application runs in fullscreen - and is controled via RF remote / RF
reciever using com port)

Go with a custom shell app (this has been done with .Net apps as well so
don't expect many problems on the way).
Learn how to make your own custom shell here:
http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/en-us/dnxpesp1/html/tchDifferentShellsForDifferentUsers.asp

KM

 

[Steven]

KM,

MAny thanks for the replay - i think i've tomorrows work laid out for
me.

I had tried using the /noguiboot switch, but it didn't seem to be
making a difference. i think this is due to how i'm currently
developing (two hard disks - disk1 XP Prof / disk 2 XPE). So i will
try running XPE without using boot.ini from c:\. I can assume that
/noguiboot keeps the display black from the bios screen to the startup
of XPE.

Again, many thanks

Steven

 

[Slobodan Brcin \(eMVP\)]

Hi Steven,

No matter how many windows-es you have as long as you use right entry in right boot.ini file.
Make sure that you modify boot.ini file on boot disk.

Best regards,
Slobodan

 

[KM]

Steven,

As Slobodan pointed out you have only one *valid* boot.ini which is on system partition (the one marked active and boot and with
ntldr on it).
Make sure you set /noguiboot switch for the proper ARC path that is responsible for booting the XPe image in your dev environment.