Windows Embedded ? Basic Questions

[plainman007]

What exactly is windows embedded ? I tried google and wikipedia etc, But they only explain in a vague manner. I basically assume its a hardcoded version of windows which comes on a chip. Is it available only for OEM device manufacturers or can one buy embedded XP for a personal machine / workstation ? Ive heard it somes in a componential version so we can strip off all that we done need in windows and only keep what we do need. Please correct me if my assumptions are wrong.

Can members here shed some more light on just the basics. What kind of MB does it need ? And what are its basic advantages ? Is it superfast in boot time ? And can one run normal windows based applications on a system like this ?

Thanks

[Rick_EE]

It is an OS that is supposed to be hardened for industrial or public use, with specific apps.

I assume you found this site. Windows Embedded OS: XP Embedded, Wince, Standard and Enterprise

It does say how to buy.

In the industrial world, it comes on touchscreen operator interfaces for machines. I use special development apps to program the operator screens themselves. The unit cannot be used for anything else.

For the people who made the units, it saves them all the time of developing their own OS. Video, networking, files, etc.

[plainman007]

Hi Rick,

I need to make a system that will run just one windows based application. Its a normal application thats used to control lighting and soundtracks etc during a live show.

I was thinking will windows XP Embedded give me a robust hardware based OS to work with. I need something that wont crash during an event. But i dont know programming etc.

How can i get started with this or does it even make sense to do so ?

Regards..

[Rick_EE]

You have about hit my limit of knowledge.

If you are running just one app, I would think the install would be as robust as the app itself.

There are PC makers out there that make hardened hardware for rougher installs.

[XJ.]

Hey Rick, is there much of a market out there for Windows Embedded developers?

[Rick_EE]

I have no idea XJ. My usage is pretty much limted t to this. Automation Systems - PanelView Plus Terminals

[plainman007]

Dear Rick,

What i mean is what is the way i get a minimum footprint OS with very fast boot time ? And probably with no bootscreens etc displaying since this is for a theatrical application. Or are there such ready made systems available onto which i can load just this one windows application. Im looking for a virtually crash proof system.

Regards

[Rick_EE]

From what I have seen, yes. How, I don't know.

[XJ.]

Originally Posted by plainman007

Dear Rick,

What i mean is what is the way i get a minimum footprint OS with very fast boot time ? And probably with no bootscreens etc displaying since this is for a theatrical application. Or are there such ready made systems available onto which i can load just this one windows application. Im looking for a virtually crash proof system.

Regards

There are applications that put windows into a 'kiosk' mode that do pretty much what you are looking for. I don't know of the applications by name, but I have seen them. Try google.

[XJ.]

Originally Posted by Rick_EE

I have no idea XJ. My usage is pretty much limted t to this. Automation Systems - PanelView Plus Terminals

Thanks Rick,

I haven't done embedded work for about 10 years and I was just wondering if windows was much of a player in that market now (excluding WinMobile for phones).

[plainman007]

Dear XJ,

I have tried kiosk softwares. They dont change the bootscreens (why shud i be promoting windows at an event viewed by 1000s of people ) and display windows XP and intel at the booting of the system. Secondly the kiosk mode only limits the kind of operations a user can perform. It doesnt harden the actual windows OS which is loaded and running and has a mind of its own. I trust windows does its own sort of maintenance thing when it thinks is an ideal time and such processes make it unreliable. Believe me its not what a user can do that makes a system unstable.

Ive configured and used a system which did nothing but play a particular video to audiences. It was 4 gb ram, windows xp pro, dual core 3 ghz, seperate media drives, the works. Its JOB....To play ONE training video of 45 mins duration just 3 times a day with breaks inbetween. And those days happen to be on weekends only. It runs perfectly for 10 shows but crashes and reboots during one out of 10 shows, which is a huge embarrassment in front of such a huge audience.

The fact is that the OS was loaded on this system. Then just the necessary single application to present the videos full screen. What could have happened ? There was nothing on the HDD. Just one video. It was a high-end system for a very simple and low end job and it couldnt do just that one task RELIABLY. This is a system which once set doesnt have anyone USING it. Its never been on the internet. With a $300 server cabinet with rocksolid HDD mounts and 5 fan cooling. What im trying to say is just windows installed fresh on a system and left on itself with no user touching it itself i suceptible to crashes and funny behaviour. So a kiosk mode wont help. It will crash with the kiosk mode on. But id be happy if you can prove me wrong.

[XJ.]

Guess I misunderstood plainman007. Do the event logs give any insight into the cause of the crashes? IIRC, Matrox makes hardware and software for presentations and video casting - maybe this could be of some help? Also, you could use a dual monitor setup with a small 15" monitor hidden away serving as the boot device and then send the presentation a second monitor/projector (though I'm not sure how this is done automatically - might be something you can do with Powershell or VBS). Just some 'brainstorming' ideas - this isn't something I've done in an 'unmanned' situation.

[plainman007]

Hi XJ,

The system in question actually works with dual monitors only. Once windows boots up and the application is started , it sends the control interface to the monitor and the video signals alone to the projector. If theres no video playing it wont show anything on the monitor but black. No Mouse, No icons. nothing. Its takes over the projector output as exclusive for video which is a good thing. The control interface is on the lcd monitor and we can click videos that we want to play or motorized automations that we want to control and are hooked up to the system via a dongle. The ONLY downside is to find a crash proof PC (which is why the search for xp embedded, etc, etc) and a system that wont show that UGLY intel graphic on the main screen when the system starts up, or doesnt show "windows resuming" etc during hibernate and resume. It would be great if you can suggest some freeware or inexpensive software which can change the INTEL logo, and the hibernate and resume screen.

Thanks

[XJ.]

The Intel logo is probably coming from the bios, and is in place of the usual boot screen. I'm unaware of anyway to hide the hibernate and resume screens. Sorry.

[plainman007]

XJ, i think the INTEL logo isnt there "instead of the bootscreen" cause the boot & shutdown screens can be customised (thirdparty apps) but the INTEL logo appears inspite of anything you put on it. It would be great if theres a way to modiify this. Im sure many customised professional systems dont show this logo.