XPE crashes after about a week !

  • Thread starter Thread starter AA
  • Start date Start date
A

AA

Hi,

We have a XPE running on a TMZ104 (PC/104) board and a DiskOnChip and it
works properly for about a week.

After that, it crashes and when we try to boot it back on, the mouse come
on, we can see the taskbar, but we can't click on anything, or at least
nothing is responding... Seem like it doesn't finish loading itself... We
have application in the startup folder but those don't seem to start...

There is a IO module connected to the TMZ104 and we also have a cellular
phone connected via USB for internet access. A few custom application runs
to collect data and send it to a remote server.

The same board runs an image of Windows 2000 with the same application
without any problems.

Any idea what may cause that ?

Is there a safe-mode in XPE ?

Any ideas as a way to troubleshoot this would be greatly appreciated!

AA
 
AA,

It is hard to guess what might cause the problems on your board.
Just a few hints:
- are you using EWF? Check if available EWF QFEs have been installed on your image.
- is it hardware or software related problem? Check setupapi.log from a broken device.
- are you able to repro the problem with your XPe image without additional apps included?
- you mentioned Windows 200. What about XP Pro? Hw it runs on the hardware?

The Safe mode is not supported with and prior XPe/SP1.
 
Hi,

Thank you for your answer!

No, we are not using EWF.

We will check the setupapi.log...

As for the repro, it hard to tell. So far, we have left the board running 2
times, each times it lasted about a week before crashing, and after if
crashes, we weren't able to start it back. We needed to put back the
original image and go thru the FBA again...

We never tried XPPro, I very much dought that it would be possible to
install, we only have about 600Meg for the OS. W2K install just barely!

You mentionned that "Safe Mode" is not supported, is there any way to
diagnostic a none starting up XPE ?

Thanks!

Bye!
 
Hi,

Remote kernel debugging with for instance windbg.exe. (It is supported by default)
You can load offline registry to working computer and disable your programs and drivers to see if this help.
Also before that try disconnecting devices from USB to see if it will help you to boot device.

As last resort use RAM EWF to protect your XPe so after the crash it will start normally without corruption.

Best regards,
Slobodan
 
Hi,

As Slobodan mentioned, KD (WinDbg) would be an option for you.
However, you would still need a good repro case for the issue.

And keep in mind, that XPe binaries are the same as XP Pro. Therefore it the hardware works stable with XP Pro , it will likely work
the same with XPe.
Can't say the same if Win2000 is in the picture.
 
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