Windows 8.1 Enterprise Preview

Hi folks,

try the Windows 8.1 Enterprise preview now. It comes with enhancements in mobility, security, device management as well as virtualization. You can find a complete description of What’s new in Windows 8.1 Enterprise here.

Have fun!

Adeneo Embedded Shell for Windows Embedded Compact 2013 on Freescale i.MX6

Hi folks,

As just mentioned in my article about Windows Embedded Compact 2013 Streamlining, the Windows 95 Shell was removed from the Catalog.

Good news if you do need a shell on Windows Embedded Compact 2013:

See the Adeneo Embedded Shell running on a Freescale i.MX6 SabreLite board under Windows Embedded Compact 2013:

More information about the Adeneo Embedded Shell can be found here.

Have fun!

Windows Embedded Compact 2013 – Streamlined Catalog

As promised in my earlier post, I will now disclose more details about Windows Embedded Compact 2013.

The Windows Embedded Compact 2013 Catalog has been “streamlined”, as Microsoft calls it. Now what does that mean, exactly?

The goal to offer an OS that is focused on the most relevant customer scenarios. Therefore some Catalog items have been merged, others were enabled by default, additional items have been at and some Catalog items have been removed.

The most relevant Catalog items that have been removed in Windows Embedded Compact 2013 are:

1.       Internet Explorer 7

2.       Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP)

3.       Features such as DLNA and device sync

4.       Windows 95 shell

If your current device depends on any of the above mentioned features, you need to think carefully whether or not it would make sense to upgrade your product to Windows Embedded Compact 2013.

Last but not least, here is a complete list of Catalog changes from Windows Embedded Compact 7 to Windows Embedded Compact 2013.

Have fun!

TI AM335X StarterKit get WEC2013 support

Hi Folks

Only one month after the General Availability of Microsoft Windows Embedded Compact 2013, Adeneo Embedded announces the availability of support of the Texas Instruments AM335x ARM® Cortex™-A8 StarterKit.
The AM335x Starter Kit with a 4.3-inch LCD display provides a stable and affordable platform for smart appliance, industrial and networking applications. It is a low-cost development platform based on the ARM® Cortex™-A8 processor that is integrated with multiple communication options such as Dual Gigabit Ethernet, WiFi and Bluetooth® connectivity (http://processors.wiki.ti.com/index.php/AM335x_Starter_Kit).


Find the complete list of features by clicking on the following link :
http://www.adeneo-embedded.com/Products/Board-Support-Packages/Texas-Instruments

Enjoy!

-Nicolas

Windows Embedded Compact QFEs for June 2013 have arrived!

Hi all,

the June updates for Windows Embedded Compact are available for download:

Windows Embedded Compact 7 Monthly Update June 2013:

Fixes made in this update:

Component: Browser

130628_KB2847376 -  HTMLView fails to navigate to URL containing fragment.

130628_KB2861309 -  This update addresses some security issues in IE.

Component: DSHOW

130628_KB2792019 -  Video rendering may fail when attempted to play on a higher resolution than that of the screen resolution.

Component: GWE

130619_KB2837361 - This update addresses an issue with erroneous flagging of regular menu as a system menu.

Component: Kernel

130628_KB2821959 - This update addresses an issue with OS not responding when kernel CETK test is executed.

Component: Networking

130628_KB2835268 -  Internet Connection Sharing may not work depending on adapters' binding order.

Component: Servers

130628_KB2779930 -  An update that improves the ability of the SMB server to continue functioning after IPv4 address changes is available for Windows Embedded Compact 7.

Windows Embedded CE 6.0 Monthly Update June 2013:

Fixes made in this update:

Component:  IE

130628_KB2861307 - This update addresses some security issues on IE.

Component:  Wininet

130628_KB2854501 - InternetCloseHandle delays closure by 15 seconds if HttpSendRequest fails.

Windows CE 5.0 Monthly Update June 2013:

Fixes made in this update:

 

Component:  IE

130628_KB2861289 - This update addresses some security issues in IE.

REMEMBER: It’s important to keep your system up to date!

Have fun!

Windows Embedded Compact 2013 eBook

Hi Folks,

if you are looking for some literature on Windows Embedded Compact 2013 (WEC2013), I would suggest you to read the online book version of Samuel Phung (eMVP).

http://embedded101.com/Compact2013ebook/

Enjoy !

-Nicolas

Article: “What‘s new in Windows Embedded Compact 2013“ in the ECE Magazine

Hi folks,

check out the article I wrote “What‘s new in Windows Embedded Compact 2013” in the current ECE Magazine.

Have fun!

“There is a problem with this Windows Installer package” error during QFE installation

Hi folks,

if you try to install QFEs for Windows Embedded CE/Compact versions prior to Windows Embedded Compact 7 (*.msi files) on systems running a post Windows XP OS, you might encounter the following error:

In my specific case I needed to install a Windows Embedded CE 6.0 R3 QFE on a Windows 7 32-bit system.

To solve this issue simply right-click the *.msi installer file, and select “Run this program in compatibility mode for: Previous version of Windows” in the “Compatibility” tab.

In fact you will encounter this error for every *.msi file, not just QFEs.

Have fun!

Add Firewall exceptions to WES7 answer file

Hi Folks

When building a Windows Embedded Standard 7 image you can configure the Firewall rules in order to be able to enable the Remote Desktop. The following article explain the steps to follow in Image Configuration Editor (ICE) : http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ff794875(v=winembedded.60).aspx

The configuration of the Firewall require the identification of the functionality Identifier that is located in the FirewallAPI DLL. This identification can't be found on the internet, and some actions on your side must be performed in order to configure the Firewall to match your requirements. The identifier that should be use, is the resource identified in the library, and you can use Resource Hacker application  (http://www.angusj.com/resourcehacker/) on the  FirewallAPI.dll.mui file.

ResourceHacker in action for File and Printer Sharing

Example of IDs :
@FirewallAPI.dll,-28502 (File/Print Sharing)

@FirewallAPI.dll,-28752 (Remote Desktop)

-Nicolas

Enable custom shell per user under WES7

Hi Folks,

We are going to change the default shell launched at user logon, the idea is to have a default shell like your product application to be executed when the default user is logged, and the explorer shell when an administrator starts a session.

Registry configuration

The following MSDN article describes the configuration required under Windows Embedded Standard 2009, but it require some adjustments under Windows Embedded Standard 7.
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms838576.aspx

The following registry value :

Key: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\IniFileMapping\system.ini\boot\Shell

should be set to :

Value: USR:Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon

Security considerations

The explorer shell is more user friendly for platform maintenance but open the device to its settings. By launching your application for lambda users then you ensure that the user won't mess up the system, as your application will provide the minimal set of functionality required by your product.
For security reason you can understand that we must set your application as the default user shell. And per user account configure different shell like the explorer shell for the administrator user. In case of user being able to create new user account on the system through a back door of the system or using malicious code, then this hacker will also have to configure the user account to set a different shell in order to be able to make more damages onto your device.

- Nicolas

Windows Embedded 8.1 Industry Pro Preview Release

Hi Folks,

Check out the new public pre-release of Windows Embedded 8.1 Industry Pro here on Connect. Windows Embedded 8 Industry is the successor of POS Ready. On Connect, you can file suggestions and bugs.

There is also a MSDN forum for the Windows Embedded 8.1 Industry Pro pre-release where you can discuss features, etc.

Have fun!

Embedded presentation on //build/

Hi Folks,

Mike Hall, Principal Software Architect, Windows Embedded at Microsoft, held a presentation on the //build/ conference where Windows 8.1 is introduced with the title “How to Use Point-of-Sale Devices in Your App”:

Or you can watch the recording here on Channel 9.

Have fun!