Using user swappable External Storage with a Windows CE deviceCESD|200072Applies To
OverviewWhen you add a storage device to your Windows CE based Handheld PC a new folder will appear in My Handheld PC. This guide describes how to use external storage. GuideWindows CE devices all contain a limited amount of internal memory. If you want to expand the amount of storage space that your device contains you must purchase an external storage card. This usually comes in the form of a Solid State CF Card. Storage isn't MemoryWindows CE devices run using a combination of RAM and ROM. The ROM contains the Operating System, providing an always available platform for the H/PC to run from. When in use, the ROM is copied into the RAM as Program memory.
The remainder of the RAM is called Storage Memory.
Handheld PCs allow you to change the ratio of allocated Program and Storage memory using the System applet in the Control Panel. Increasing the amount of Program Memory will increase the performance of your device, but reduce the amount of information you can store internally. When you want to increase the amount of Storage Memory you will insert a CF card. CF Cards and other types of external storage have no bearing on the Memory Display in system properties. Only the Internal RAM is addressable by the system. External Storage can only be used for holding more data and installing more applications. Using CF CardsTo Windows CE a Storage card is simply a folder in the system memory. You can view the Storage Cards currently in your Handheld PC via the Device tab in the System Applet (HPC2000 / HPC Pro) or in the General tab (CE1 & 2). If you are running your device on battery power when you insert a Storage Card, or if you soft reset on battery power with a CF card inserted you will be prompted if you wish to enable the card. The card will not be enabled unless you select yes. If you select No, the card will not be using battery power. If you later wish to use the card, eject and reinsert the card.
When you wish to access the Storage Card, the process is similar to accessing a floppy disk on your main computer. With one exception. Windows CE does not support the use of Drive Letters (A:, C:, D:, E: etc.) like mainstream Windows does. The Storage Card is simply a sub-folder of the file system. To access the card you simply open it's directory.
The first storage card inserted into the Handheld PC will be assigned the name 'Storage Card'. The second will be 'Storage Card 2' and so on. There are ways to lock the names of the storage cards. Please see the Support section for more information. The Storage Card folder then acts in exactly the same was as any other folder on your device, or indeed folder on your main PC. You can install applications onto the CF card, just as you would into the main memory of your device. When installing through ActiveSync, you will be prompted if you wish to install the application into the default install directory. Choose no and select Storage Memory when prompted. Known issuesBoot Time Applications Cannot be installed onto CF Cards
The desktop wallpaper will fail after a soft reset if stored on a Storage Card
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