Windows® CE.

NET Based
Embedded System

Users Manual

ICP Electronics Inc.

www.iei.com.tw
Copyright Notice
©Copyright 2002 by ICP Electronics Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Manual 1st edition April 01, 2002.

The information in this document is subject to change without prior

notice in order to improve reliability, design and function and does
not represent a commitment on the part of the manufacturer.

In no event will the manufacturer be liable for direct, indirect,

special, incidental, or consequential damages arising out of use or
inability to use the product or documentation, even if advised of the
possibility of such damages.

This document contains proprietary information protected by

copyright. All rights are reserved. No part of this manual may be
reproduced by any mechanical, electronics, or other means in any
form without prior written permission of the manufacturer.
Table of Content

Introduction
Installation and Setting
Tutorial – Using Windows CE.NET
Shut down the system
Task Manager
Command Prompt (CMD.EXE)
IEI Auto Launch Application Solution
VGA
Audio
LAN
Touch screen
Keyboard
Mouse
Software Keyboard
File system and Storage
IDE Hard Disk/FlashDisk/CompactFlashDisk
IDE CD-ROM/DVD-ROM
Serial Ports
Parallel Port
Digital I/O
Watchdog timer
USB
IrDA
Communication Programs
Application include Browser/Word/Inbox
RDP Function

Application Programming
Cross Development
Host and Target
Development Tools
Windows® CE eMbedded Visual C++
Remote Connection between Host and Target
 Serial Port: ActiveSync
Ethernet
Visual C++ Programming
Win32 Programming
MFC Programming
Utilities
Introduction

Windows CE .NET is the families of the Microsoft Embedded system

and is designed from the ground up for the embedded marketplace,
Windows CE .NET delivers a robust real-time operating system for
rapidly building the next generation of smart mobile and small
footprint devices. With a complete operating system feature set and
end-to-end development environment, Windows CE .NET contains
everything you need to create a custom Windows CE–based device
that requires rich networking, hard real-time, and a small footprint,
as well as rich multimedia and Web browsing capabilities.

IEI Windows CE.NET based Embedded System

With the Windows CE.NET ready OS Image and Windows CE
runtime license. You don't have to waste time on developing
device drivers of board or using the Platform Builder to build
the Windows CE Image yourself. All you have to do is develop
your Windows CE.NET applications and ship the solution to your
customer on the fly!

IEI Enhancement for Windows CE

IEI continues the efforts to develop Windows CE.NET drivers,
tools and components to enhance Microsoft Windows CE.NET
package. The key enhancements are as followings
Auto Launch Application Function
Digital I/O Function
Watchdog Timer
Installation and Setting

Windows CE.NET is an embedded operating system and the

Windows CE.NET image comes with the special hardware and
settings for on-board devices. So you may not change the
related BIOS, IRQ, jumper, I/O address, DMA settings for the
on-board devices. If you really need to change the settings,
please remember the original settings before doing any
changes.

DRAM Installation:
16MB DRAM is usually too small to run the full configuration of
Windows CE.NET image, you may need more size of DRAM, We
recommend at least 32MB DRAM for most applications. The IEI
evaluation kit installs 128M DRAM by default.

Utility & Applications

Some utility programs are available on CD, and you can also
use it in Windows CE.NET image, we have packed these utility
programs in image.

The embedded system you get should have Windows CE.NET

software properly installed. Please be careful not to delete the
important systems files like nk.bin in the flash disk or DOC.
 System files
The followings are the systems files in Flash disk or DOC.
Please don't delete these system files or the system may not
boot or work normally.

Boot Loader file: loadcepc.exe

Boot loader will load the image file to memory to boot.
Please don't delete this file or change the default setting.

Image file (nk.bin)

This is the Windows CE.NET image file. Please don't delete
it.

Note: Microsoft Windows CE.NET and IEI software are

protected by copyright laws. Please don't make any illegal copy.
Tutorial – Using Windows CE.NET

Shut down the system

Unlike other Windows OS, there is a shut down button. The
Windows CE.NET default shell is designed for Pocket PC,
the Suspend button of Windows CE.NET does not work for
x86 system. To shut down the x86 Windows CE.NET
system, you have to close all applications. Then reset the
system or turn off power supply.

Dos command Prompt (CMD.EXE)

The dos command Prompt provides similar function as the
DOS prompt. You can copy, delete, list and execute files.
If you need more information, just type Help for a list of
commands.
You can run dos command by select Start > Programs >
Command Prompt or just run cmd.exe.

Task Manager
Press Alt+Tab key to run Task Manager

Function button description:

End Task: You can stop the selected task.
Switch To: You can use arrow keys to select the task
and switch to this task.
Cancel: Exit Task Manager

IEI Auto Launch Application Solution

The default way to launch applications during Windows CE
booting is to put your applications in a special Registry key
and rebuild the Windows CE Image. This is too complicated
and not flexible for most application developers. To solve
this problem, IEI has developed the "Auto Launch" solution.
With this solution, you can let the system run your
applications without rebuilding the Windows CE Image.
Touch Panel
If the target device does not have the Touch Panel, please
skip this session. Touch Panel is available as an option on
most Panel PCs. The default pre-configured Windows
CE.NET Image does not include Touch Panel driver and the
serial port COM1/COM2 are available for the other device.
To add a Touch Panel to the Windows CE.NET platform, the
Windows CE Image needs to be rebuilt with the Touch
Panel driver. The touch panel calibration utility is located in
my computer->windows of Windows CE.NET.

Calibration Utility
You need to calibrate after first time booting to Windows
CE.NET. Here is the procedure:
1. Run the calibrate.exe for the touch panel.
2. Just follow the screen display to touch some places.
3. Then the touch panel function will work.
Keyboard
Most applications in Embedded system don't need a
keyboard. You may need to configure your Embedded
system by connecting a standard keyboard. After that, you
could power off the system, then remove the keyboard and
reboot.

Mouse
PS/2 Mouse is the default Mouse device of Windows CE.NET.
For some systems that do not support a PS/2 Mouse, it just
supports Serial Mouse as the pointing device. Like the
keyboard, the system doesn't need a mouse for most
Embedded applications.
IDE Hard Disk/Flash Disk/Compact Flash Disk
/CD-ROM/DVD-ROM
If the target device does not support IDE device, please
skip this session. The IDE driver built in for the
pre-configured Windows CE.NET Image supports the IDE
Interface device, like IDE HDD, Flash disk, CompactFlash ™
Card, CD-ROM and DVD-ROM

Directory Name: There is no drive letter (C:, D: or E:) in

Windows CE.NET. The directory name for the IDE device is:
HDD: \Hard Disk
CD-ROM: \CDROM Drive

DiskOnChip
The M-Systems TrueFFS DiskOnChip driver is built into the
pre-configured Windows CE.NET Image if the board has
onboard DiskOnChip socket. Please skip this session if the
target device does not have DiskOnChip socket.

Directory: There is no drive letter (A:, C: and D:) in

Windows CE.NET. The directory name for DiskOnChip is
\DiskOnChip.

Serial Port
Serial Port Testing Procedure:
1. Prepare another Windows 95/98/NT Client PC
2. Prepare a Null Modem cable to connect Client PC and
Target Windows CE.NET Device.
3. Start the HyperTerminal.exe (Hypertrm.exe) on
Windows 95/98/NT PC, set the baud rate as 19200.
4. On the Windows CE.NET Target device
Run the program pegterm.exe
Create a New Session
Input any number in the Telephone Number filed.
Select Force Local
Click Configure...
Select Manual Dial in Port Settings.
Set the baud rate as same as 95/98/NT PC.
Type some characters on both keyboards to verify the
connection function work or not.
Parallel Port
Windows CE.NET only supports PCL printer driver. Most HP
printers should support PCL function. If your printer does
not support PCL function, then you have to develop the
Windows CE.NET printer driver.

To test the printer port, you may:

Connect a PCL compatible printer and use the IE to print
the web page.

Ethernet
Network Setting
If the target device you have does not have network chip,
please skip this session. In Windows CE.NET you need to
change the Device Name in the Control Panel before using
the network.
Please do the procedure as followings:
1. Go to Control Panel > Communications Properties.
2. Change the default name "WinCE" to any other name.
Ps:You have to select a unique name.
4. You may change the Network and TCP/IP settings. (Go
to Control Panel > Network) The default IP setting is
DHCP. You may change to static IP.
5. Click "suspend" in Start Menu to save the Registry
setting.
6. Reboot the system.
7. You can use net command and UNC to access Windows
95/98/NT/2000 share directories and files. However,
Windows CE.NET does not support Windows
95/98/NT/2000 to access files on Windows CE.NET
device. You may develop an application like FTP to help
out with this solution. .

Audio
If the target device does not support audio function, please
skip this session.
You may go to Control Panel > Volume & Sounds to
adjust the volume or change the .WAV file for sounds of
system events.
Digital I/O
If the target device does not support Digital I/O function,
please skip this session.

_inp(),_inpw(),_outp() and _outpw() functions can be used

in your Windows CE.NET application to access the I/O
address directly.

IEI I/O Port Test Utility (DIOTST.exe)

You may use the utility to read and write data of I/O ports
and test the digital I/O functions.
Watchdog timer
If the target device does not support watchdog timer
function, please skip this session.

_inp(),_inpw(),_outp() and _outpw() function calls can be

used in your Windows CE.NET application to access the I/O
port, and you can enable/disable the watchdog timer.
Different boards may have different ways to enable/disable
watchdog timer. For more information, please refer to
hardware manual.

IEI Watchdog Timer Test Utility (WDTTST.exe)

You may use the utility to test the watchdog timer on
board function.

USB
If the target device does not support USB, please skip this
session.

To enable USB function, please follow the procedure:

1. Enable USB function in BIOS setting
2. Power off the Target device
3. Power on the Target device
4. Plug in USB device like mouse

Note:
To enable USB device, you need the Windows CE.NET
driver for the USB device.
IrDA (SIR)
If the target device does not support IrDA function, please
skip this session.

Please do the following procedure to enable IrDA:

1. Enable IrDA in BIOS setting.
2. Connect an IrDA Adapter to the Target device. Example:
IEI IR210L Infrared data communication adaptor.

Communication Programs
Click Start > Programs > Communication to run the
programs. Select Remote Connections.

Remote Networking (remnet.exe): Check Topics about

"Connection to a Network", "Adjusting Remote Connection
Properties", "Connecting to an ISP".
Terminal (pegterm.exe): Terminal Using

Browser
The browser is from Windows CE.NET Platform Builder.
Microsoft provides IESample as a sample. Developers can
refer to the sample code to develop the browser.

For more information, see:

Programmer's Guide to Internet Explorer for Microsoft
Windows CE.NET
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/embedded/ce.net
Application Programming

Cross Development
For Windows 98/NT/2000 application programming, the
development tool like Visual C++ and application can be on
the same PC. So developer can develop, debug and test
application on the same PC. However, this is impossible for
most embedded system development. Because some
embedded systems are headless (no display, keyboard or
mouse) or the CPU is not powerful enough to install the
development tool. Cross development is the solution. The
cross development includes a powerful development host,
target embedded system and the cable connection
between two system.

Windows CE Application Cross-Development

Environment
Host: PC with development tools
Target: Your Windows CE Embedded System
Connection: Ethernet or serial port connection
Development Tools

The WinCE.NET support the managed (.NET-enabled) and

unmanaged (native) code

Managed Code: The .NET Compact Framework makes

available to programmers a rich framework include UI
classes, data access, XML support, automatic memory
management, and garbage collection. Managed code is
executed by one of the primary components of the .NET
Framework, the Common Language Runtime (CLR). The
CLR is a high performance execution engine which provides
run-time services such as memory management,
cross-language inheritance, code access security, and
automatic lifetime control of objects. Visual Studio .NET
provides the development environment for creating
managed code:
Visual Studio .NET
Visual Basic .NET
Visual C++ .NET
Visual C# .NET

Unmanaged code: Often referred to as "native code",

unmanaged code executes directly against Window CE.NET,
providing backward compatibility and performance
advantages. For creating applications or components using
unmanaged code, developers can use:
eMbedded Visual C++ 4.0

In this manual, we only mention the unmanaged code

programming, if you want to program using the .NET
framework please refer to the Microsoft .NET documents.
 IEI Platform SDK
To develop Windows CE application for IEI platform, you
need to install the platform SDK. There is a SDK in the CD,
which is for using Embedded Visual C++ 4.0 to develop
your application.

Development Host System Requirement

1. PC with Pentium processor; Pentium 150 MHz or higher
2. Windows NT Workstation 4.0 with Service Pack 5 or later, or
Microsoft Windows 2000

Development Host Installation

1. Install Windows NT 4.0 + Service Pack 5 or later, or Windows
2000
2. Install Microsoft eMbedded Visual C++ 4.0
3. Install IEI Platform SDK
Remote Connection between Host and Target
You may select Ethernet or serial port connection. However,
you can only select one at a time for a target device. If the
platform has Ethernet, please choose Ethernet connection,
because Ethernet connection is much faster. If the platform
doesn't have Ethernet function, please select serial port
connection.

ActiveSync Serial Port Connection

1. Prepare a Null Modem serial cable. Please make sure the
cable pin-out is exactly the same as in the Appendix. Use
this cable to connect the development host PC and
Windows CE device.
2. On the Windows CE.NET Target device: Run remnet.exe.
Click the "Make New Connection". Enter any name for
the connection (e.g. "My Connection", then click the
"Direct Connection" option. Then click "Next". Select
"Serial Cable on COM1". Click on the "Configure…"
button. Set the Connection Preferences as follows:
Baud Rate: 19200 (or other speed)
Data Bits: 8
Parity: None
Stop Bits: 1
Flow Control: Hardware

Note: Make sure you have enable "Manual Dial" in Port

Settings and your host PC has the same serial port
settings (Baud Rate and others) as the above.

Then close the "Direct Connection" window. Open

control panel. Double click the "Communication" icon.
Click the "PC Connection" Tab. Select the "Change…"
button. Select the name which you create before (e.g.
"My Connection"). Then Close the "Communications
Properties" window. Close the "Control Panel" window.
3. Download ActiveSync 3.5 from Microsoft web site to your
PC.
4. Install ActiveSync 3.5 on your development host PC.
5. Run ActiveSync 3.5. When the "Get Connected" screen
is shown on the host system. On the Windows CE.NET
system, click on the "Start" then click on "Run…" and type
"repllog" (but don't hit "OK")

6. On the Host system "Get Connected" screen, click

"Next". Then click "OK" on the Windows CE.NET device
 "Run" screen (a "connecting to..." box will appear)
7. When a serial port connection has been established
between the host system and the Windows CE.NET device,
the "ActiveSync" icon on the Host PC task bar will turn
green, and a "New Partnership" screen will appear.

8. Choose the "No" option that states, "I don't want to

synchronize information". Note:
Configure Platform for ActiveSync Serial Connection
1. Run eMbedded Visual C++ 4.0
2. Run Tools > "Configure Platform Manager…"
3. Select the right platform/device (e.g. Wafer 582x) to
configure
4. Click "Properties …"
5. Select "Microsoft ActiveSync"
6. Click "Advanced" button
7. Select "Microsoft ActiveSync" and press "OK" button
8. Press "Test" button to test the connection

Note: You have to change the "device name" in Windows CE

control panel for every new ActiveSync connection, or there
will be a duplicate name warning on Windows CE device.

9. Once connected, you can use remote tools (e.g. Remote

Registry Editor) on the eMbedded Visual C++.

Ethernet Connection
1. Connect development host and Windows CE device to the
network. (Make sure they both get the IP addresses)
2. Run eMbedded Visual C++ 4.0
3. Run Tools > "Configure Platform Manager…"
4. Select the right platform/device (e.g. Wafer 582x) to
configure
5. Click "Properties …"
6. Select "TCP/IP Transport for Windows CE"
7. Click "Configure"
8. Select "Fixed Port" and press "OK" button
9. Click "Advanced" button
10. Select "Manual Server" and press "OK" button
11. Press "Test" button to test the connection
12. It shows following prompt, write down the long
command line on paper. Press "OK".
13. Enter the long command line on Windows CE device.
You may need to enter this long string very frequently
for the future debugging. The best way is to write a .bat
file and reuse it.

14. Once connected, you may use the remote tools like
"Remote Registry Editor".
Visual C++ Programming

Win32 Programming

This sample shows you how to develop a simple Win32 Hello

World application.

Start eMbedded Visual C++ 4.0. Select New from the File
menu, click on Projects and select WCE Application. Then
enter the project name HelloW32, in the directory of your
choice. Also select the proper platform (e.g. Win32 (WCE
x86) and Win32 (WCE x86em)). Click OK.

The WCE Application - Step 1 of 1 window is shown.

Select A typical "Hello World" application and click
Finish. This generates a Win32 application that displays...
you know what by now. You can see in the left panel
(called the Workspace) some files being listed.

Select Build HelloW32.exe from the Build menu. The

entire project is built in a few seconds and the executable
(HelloW32.exe) is copied to the target Windows CE device
through serial ActiveSync or Ethernet connection you set
before.

MFC Programming

This sample shows you how to develop a simple MFC

application.

Start eMbedded Visual C++ 4.0. Select New from the File
menu, click on Projects and select WCE MFC AppWizard
(exe). Then enter the project name HelloMFC, in the
directory of your choice. Also select the proper platform
(e.g. Win32 (WCE x86) and Win32 (WCE x86em)). Click
OK.
You may use default settings for the reset of Wizard steps
and click Finish.

Select Build HelloMFC.exe from the Build menu. The

entire project is built in a few seconds and the executable
(HelloMFC.exe) is copied to the target Windows CE device
through serial ActiveSync or Ethernet connection you set
before.

Utilities

Autolaunch.EXE
This utility allows you to run application which you want to
run first after booting to Windows CE.NET.
Copy this file to DOC or HDD through neighborhood or
ActiveSync, then double click autolaunch.exe.
Just click browse to select the application you want to run
first after booting to Windows CE.NET.
Next time when booting to Windows CE.NET, the application
will run automatically.

Regflush.EXE
This utility helps you to save settings in registry. Even after
power reset, these setting will be kept in your DOC or HDD
device. For example, you can set IP address as fixed IP then
double click regflush.exe. After reset power and booting to
Windows CE.NET, the IP address setting will be the same as
before.

DIOTST.EXE
Digital I/O test utility, it helps you to test digital input and
output function on your board.
WDTTST.EXE
Watchdog Timer function test utility, after setting time and
selecting proper IO address (please refer to your user
manual), press Start Timer button to trigger watchdog timer
and start count down. Press Rest Timer button to restart
timer or the system will issue a reset to perform a cold
boot.