Platform Builder

Could someone please explain what Platform Builder does?

I have a ce.net 4.1 device - if I get Platform Builder 4.2 can I install 4.2 over the top of it, or copy the 'windows' directory?

If not, can I - as an 'ametuer', use the product at all?

Mike

Platform builder builds platforms

In theory, if you could get the appropriate device drivers, the bootloader, and the relevant licensing then yes you could.

I'm experimenting to see what can and can't be done, but I don't really have the time to devote to it. I suspect that it might be possible to rip the 4.1 device drivers out of the existing ROM, and use them in a PB build of the 4.2 ROM, but the problem is in the bootloader and the risk that you could end up with an expensive paper weight.

Problem is getting access to the ROM. It appears that WinCE applications have access to two (and only two) 32MB "slots" of memory, one being the application's space, and the other being XIP (execute in place) DLLs.

There's a call to grant access to the other 30 slots, but whether this means I can get access to the raw ROM is as yet unknown. There's also the kernel space of the memory map that needs looking into...

The other point is that finding PB4.2 doesn't seem to be trivial - you can get an eval of 5 quite easily, but I still have yet to see 4.2 anywhere... Let me know if you do find an eval version.

I have platform builder 4.2 - but don't know where to start!

It's also a $4000 US application & don't think about doing anything stupid and obtaining it under the counter, Microsoft would nail you to a wall for illegal OS production/distribution.

is it the evaluation version you've got? I'm trying, mostly out of morbid curiosity, CE 5.0 platform builder. It's a confusing lot of fun!

PB is designed for use by OEMs to create the rom image for their devices. To use it, you need to license the application which isn't a trivial sum (as Chris points out), and then you need to sell a license for every OS you ship...

I've re-read your question... You can't just take stuff generated by PB and copy it over the windows directory, unfortunately . You need to replace the whole ROM, which assuming is flash ROM is technically possible, but a lot easier if you happen to be the OEM with the correct drivers, etc

Also note that PB creates Windows CE, it does not create H/PC platforms.

In English, it means, only the OS, and not the whole thingie, like Pocket apps etc.

This language you speak of? It's not English, it's newbie

Its Newblish!!

okay, you want ce .net 4.2?
well, first download eMbedded Visual C++ 4.0 at : http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=1DACDB3D-50D1-41B2-A107-FA75AE960856&displaylang=en
Then download service pack 4 at : http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=4a4ed1f4-91d3-4dbe-986e-a812984318e5&displaylang=en

... erm.... no

CE is an Operating System, eVC is a dev studio.
One doesn't equate to the other.

Hey, how can I obtain the platform builder 4.2?

You need a corporate Microsoft Open License plan, with that you can use downgrade rights from PB5 to PB4.2.

Alternativly, you need to contact a Windows CE licensing partner - phone MS corporate services for a list.

Thanks for the help, but actually I need to create applications for a µPDA, but the manual says this:"you will probably wish to install Embedded Visual C++ 4.0 on the PC (the version that comes with Platform Builder 4.2 or Platform
Builder 4.0 with Service Pack 2 (SP2) applied). But I also have installed the Embedded visual C++ 4.0, the thing is that is not the one from the platform builder.

And the real problem is that I cannot download programs or use the microsoft activesync 3.7, to conect my laptop with a pocket pc via USB.
What can I do?