Newbie questions

[Dave August]

I have several Newbie questions so bear with me.

I'm new to XPe but not to Windows software development, I've been doing
Win32/MFC programming for so long I could do it my sleep.

First and foremost, where do I get the SDK. I have Visual Studio 6, the
latest Platform SDK, DDK and even the IFS kit.

2: Is there a good 2nd party book on XPe development in the DDK world we
live and die by Walter Oneys book.

3: Can XPe be made to boot/run from a USB memory stick and not have a 'real'
hard disk.

4: Will XPe be happy without a traditional keyboard, assuming my application
can get it's input from other sources.


Thanks for your time, and I'm sure I'll have more questions later.

Dave August

 

[KM]

Hi Dave,

First and foremost, where do I get the SDK. I have Visual Studio 6, the
latest Platform SDK, DDK and even the IFS kit.

You can still use the same programming dev tools as well as the Platform
SDK, DDk, etc.
Your only responsibility would be not to use particular SDKs (or API Sets)
that are not included in your image. E.g., MAPI APIs if you don't include
MAPI suport.

Unfortunately, there is currently no SDK roller feature in TD (as CE
Platform Builder has, for instance).

2: Is there a good 2nd party book on XPe development in the DDK world we
live and die by Walter Oneys book.

XPe DDK development = XP Pro DDK development. So you may want to look for XP
Pro DDK books.

3: Can XPe be made to boot/run from a USB memory stick and not have a

'real' hard disk.

You can definitely boot XPe without 'real' hard disk (several approaches).
Regarding USB - it is possible (e.g., look for uDOC solution from mSystem)
but there have been some known issues with USB boot.
Search this NG archive for more hints.

http://www.m-systems.com/files/Documentation/DOC/uDOC_FAQ1.1.pdf

4: Will XPe be happy without a traditional keyboard, assuming my application
can get it's input from other sources.

XPe headless support:
http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/en-us/xpehelp/html/xeconHeadlessSystem.asp

Regards,
KM

 

[Martin Grossen, eMVP [AVNET Silica]]

Hello Dave



I'm new to XPe but not to Windows software development, I've been doing
Win32/MFC programming for so long I could do it my sleep.

Great! XP-E are the same binaries as XP Professional. You have the full
API32
and full MFC available. So, all Software from XP Professional will run on XP
Embedded.


First and foremost, where do I get the SDK. I have Visual Studio 6, the
latest Platform SDK, DDK and even the IFS kit.

There is no SDK like Windows CE for XP-Embedded becouse of the
full API32 support.


2: Is there a good 2nd party book on XPe development in the DDK world we
live and die by Walter Oneys book.

Also the drivers are the same binaries. You can use any XP driver book and
the standard XP DDK for XP-E drivers. (You can import the .inf file into the
Component Designer)


3: Can XPe be made to boot/run from a USB memory stick and not have a
'real'
hard disk.

Yep! If your System BIOS can boot from USB-Memory. Also other Flash-Disc
solutions like CF-Cards, DiskOnChip Modules are possible.
In additional, you have the EWF feature available in XP-Embedded.
With EWF (Enhanced Write Filter) you can protect any system partition for
writing.
This will save liftime of your flashdisc.


4: Will XPe be happy without a traditional keyboard, assuming my
application
can get it's input from other sources.

Yep! Also headless drivers are included. Many Touch-Drivers are available
from
3rd parties. A known issue is to connect a PS2 keyboard after booting
without
keyboard. USB is no problem.


--

Martin Grossen, eMVP

AVNET EMG Silica
FM/FAM Microsoft Embedded Europe

Your competent partner for Microsoft Embedded licencing

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

[JC]

Howdy Newbie,

To answer your questions:

The SDK's you would use are the same you would use for XP Pro. Since the OS
is built on the same binaries, you can dev in your familiar environment,
with known SDK's. Since you are familiar with win32/MFC programming, I won't
bore you with how to get them. we use MSDN for our purposes.

DDK's and other reference materials are available, but again, as the OS is
built on the same binaries, it's best to use the Development books that are
widely available for XP. There are a couple books available on XPE
specifically, but they mostly deal with deployment scenarios, and
performance tuning. see RTC books. there is a Step-by-Step Book, and an
advanced book. http://www.rtcbooks.com

XPE can boot from SSD (solid state disk) without a traditional Hard Drive,
utilizing techniques such as EWF (Enhanced Write Filter) to prolong the life
of the SSD. While I have not personally tried an XPE image on a USB disk, I
have done it on Compact Flash many times with great success.

XPE will be fine without traditional keyboard, as long as you have some form
of HID initialized (IE, touchscreen, soft Keyboard, ETC)

Hope this helps a little.

 

[Dave August]

Thanks all for such a fast response..

I think I confused things a bit with my comment about DDK's.. I don't think
I'll have to do DDK work here , was just interested in books on the basic
scenerio of building an XPe system.

Following this thought, you all speak of the XPe 'Image' and I see things on
the MSDN site about the XPe SP1... I guess what I'm trying to ask is what's
needed to build an XPe system, does MSDN have a special set of 'binaries'
and tools that I have to get to create one, and if so I assume this is
availabe from MSDN so what do I have to do to get it. FWIW my MSDN
subscription expired several years ago, but I have no problem 'reupping' if
I have too and at what 'level' do I need.

Thanks again.

Dave August

 

[JC]

Dave,

In order to build XPE images, you need the Windows XP embedded Suite,
available from any MS Embedded Distributor. see www.microsoft.com/embedded

in the suite, you will have the component database, which contains the
repository of components, Devices, Features, ETC that you want to build into
your system. The application Target Designer allows you to configure your
image for deployment into a run-time scenario. I strongly suggest the books
I mentioned before from RTC books, as well as the Microsoft Training on XPE,
available from a MS training provider.

Hope this helps. Let me know if we can help further

 

[KM]

Dave,

A good start for you may be here: http://msdn.microsoft.com/embedded/usewinemb/xp

You can download XPe SP1 Eval Edition:
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/...f0-a931-4a5e-aaef-08f1cd4b0a80&DisplayLang=en

 

[Dave August]

Thanks again for the rapid and thorough responses.

I'm reviewing the material and reading/watching the stuff on MSDN.
This will hold me for a while, but in the words of our California
'Gropenator'.... "I'll Be back".

Dave August

 

[James Beau Cseri]

There are two good books available on XPe development: "Windows XP Embedded
Step by Step" and "Windows XP Embedded Advanced". Both have hands-on
exercises. Exercises for the first book use a single PC with two partitions
for development and deployment, while some exercises for the second book use
a second SBC. The first was released just a few months shy of the release of
SP1, so it doesn't include any material covering SP1. It was designed to get
developers up to speed on XPe as quickly as possible. The second book does
cover SP1 and provides more details about XPe, so it might take a little
longer to go through. Both are good books.

 

[Slobodan Brcin \(eMVP\)]

Hi Konstantin,

'real' hard disk.

You can definitely boot XPe without 'real' hard disk (several approaches).
Regarding USB - it is possible (e.g., look for uDOC solution from mSystem)
but there have been some known issues with USB boot.
Search this NG archive for more hints.

There are no known issues with current M-Systems uDOC USB boot solution package.
It is complete replacement for any other disk medium including regular HDD.

Also you have option to password write protect certain partitions(volumes) on uDOC device itself trough M-Systems utility software,
in this way nothing can harm running XPe image (not even specifically designed viruses). Protection can't be removed from running
XPe so image tampering is not possible.

For more info you can contact M-Systems.

Best regards,
Slobodan

 

[KM]

Slobodan,

I meant known issues with USB boot in general (not uDOC related).

Sorry for any confusion created.