1 Welcome to the Windows CE Installation Guide The purpose of this document is to provide users of FTDI chips with a simple procedure for installing drivers for their devices on PDAs and targets running Windows CE 4.2 and later. How to setup a Virtual Machine to run Windows Embedded Compact 7. Up to Windows Embedded CE 6.0, an ARM emulator was provided in the box to allow for tests and debug on an emulated environment. Windows Embedded Compact (new version of Windows CE) now comes with a Virtual PC BSP, allowing one to build, deploy and use a Virtual PC machine to do his work.
Working with an emulators or a virtual environments is very useful in the embedded space as Hardware might not be available, connectivity might complicate the development process.
Up to Windows Embedded CE 6.0, an ARM emulator was provided in the box to allow for tests and debug on an emulated environment.
Windows Embedded Compact (new version of Windows CE) now comes with a Virtual PC BSP, allowing one to build, deploy and use a Virtual PC machine to do his work.
Here is a short video explaining how to setup a Virtual Machine to run a Windows Embedded CE/Compact image.
One really convenient tool used in the process is called diskprep and can be found here.
My company is thinking of switching to these handheld units: https://www.barcodesinc.com/motorola/part-mc32n0-gi4hcheia.htm#specsThey run off of Windows Embedded Compact 7. I have been tasked with programming an inventory management solution. I do have C# .NET experience, but no experience with Compact Framework(CF), so I have a few questions.
- Do I have to use VS 2012 with CF 3.9 or can I use a newer version of VS?
- Is there an emulator that could run Embedded Compact so that I could give a demo of the software without buying the device?
ReidReid2 Answers
You'll have to use Visual Studio 2008, I'm afraid.
As for getting an emulator running try this: https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/jj200348(v=winembedded.70).aspx
Source: I'm a mobile dev thats worked on CE 5, WM 6 and WM 6.5 (but not 7)
(Just as a side opinion, CE is dead/dying. And it's pretty horrible to work on/support as a developer. GOOD LUCK!)
Windows CE 7.0 only supports .NET CF 2.0 and 3.5, and the latest Visual Studio version that will work is VS2008.
This answer gives a great overview of which Windows CE, .NET Compact Framework and Visual Studio versions go together.
Which emulator to use depends on your desktop environment:
Windows Ce 7.0 Emulator Android
- If you are on Windows 7, the way to go is Microsoft Virtual PC.
- On newer versions of desktop Windows you can use Hyper-V.
There's an emulator Getting Started guide here on MSDN. It's written for WEC2013, but will work for CE7.0 as well.