Windows CE BSP for Raspberry Pi

[dboling]

Folks,

I've published an initial Board Support Package to enable Windows Embedded Compact (Windows CE) 7 to run on the Raspberry Pi.

The source for the BSP is available on codeplex at https://ceonpi.codeplex.com.

The current source provides two separate bootloaders, the OEM Abstraction code (OAL) to boot the OS and a basic display driver. What isn't included is a debugged USB Host Controller driver. I've been working on that far too long and have decided to release the BSP as is for now. There is more documentation on the codeplex page.

For those not familiar with Windows CE but interested in this project, you will need to download Microsoft's Platform Builder 7 from the MS website. PB provides the OS, compiler debugger and other tools to get you up and running. An evaluation copy of PB is a free download. Enjoy.

Doug

[awe5ome5auce777]

Thanks for the files. I am slightly new to the raspberry pi, and I was wondering if you could post instructions on loading the operating system and the BSP files you have created.

[tramtrist]

This is quite a good thing. Please do not give up on the effort!! I have many uses for a cheap low powered windows CE device!

[TCWORLD]

Nice! I've been looking at trying this for ages but haven't had the time.

With regards to the USB driver, this might be helpful for Model B boards:
http://www.smsc.com/Products/USB/USB_to ... x/Download
There appears to be a download link for WinCE driver source code for the USB/Ethernet chip that is on the Model B board.

[ideeman1994]

After hours of fiddling (mainly installing the correct VS studio version, Windows CE 7 doesn't accept the 2012 edition), I managed to build a running Windows Compact 7 image and boot it on my Pi!

Sure, there's a lot of room for improvement, I need KITL to communicate with it, USB is not yet recognized... But it's already a big step!

I may go out on a limb here, but I think it may open new perspectives for the Raspberry Pi, where companies only swearing by Microsoft software (and I know such companies exist) may actually use the Pi to run some MS-only compatible code, Silverlight apps, etc...

Can't wait to see the next update!

[bbking]

After hours of fiddling (mainly installing the correct VS studio version, Windows CE 7 doesn't accept the 2012 edition), I managed to build a running Windows Compact 7 image and boot it on my Pi!

Could you post a quick tutorial how you did the setup and compilation? I never built an image before and that would be of great help!
Otherwise - will there be images to download? Fine for me if somebody collects the CE license fees and it's not for free...

Cheers
BBKing

[ideeman1994]

Instructions for compilation already are on codeplex, you can find them here.

But I'm sorry, I don't think I can send you a kernel.img, even if they're unlicensed... You'll have to compile them yourself

[lonku]

would it be possible to run Pocket PC/ Windows Mobile 5-6.5 applications with it?

[lucaspirolla]

any news on the port project?

[sojab0on]

as of the moment i can tell this project is alive but the usb and lan are a pain to get working i have the lan drivers but the usb controller from synopsis is the real problem to get the drivers from their site isnt gooing to happen because there authentication system is the biggest pain in the ass to get past.

They use an active site ID auth system with uses an actively generated stie id by using an unix command and some synopsis tooling i cant get my hands on as of this moment, without that i cant get trough to the driver downlaods and cant look if i can find the drives for de chip.

as i said earlier the lan drivers i have and i can say i got them in the bsp package but without the usb controller working the lan wont be working this is mainly because the SoC design from Broadcom and the PoP principle.

The lan controller is connected to a third usb poort and so without the usb controller working we cant get the lan controller to work.

but i am trying my best to get my hand on al the pieces i need to get the bsp to work fully ( almost).

And when i get it to work i will post back here and send the package to Dbolling so he can send it out.

for all of you you can find his project at
https://ceonpi.codeplex.com/releases/view/112612

here you can find the bsp en platform builder project files.

All copyrights go to Dbolling for the bsp and project files i am just a simple soul who is helping to making this project succeed.

[Thrakerzad]

The USB controller, from what I can see should also work with the LAN driver from Microchip, at least that's what I'm seeing in the documentation.

[TCWORLD]

The trouble isn't the external usb hub, its the usb host port on the main processor - until a driver for WinCE exists for that, it doesn't matter what is attached.

[sojab0on]

Thats correct but the project starter Dbolling isn't replaying on it any more so as far as i am gooining with it the project died.

Mainly deu to the fact the driver isn't here for the usb ports the pan driver is available but due to the fact that the cpu uses an part of the design ware usb stack from the earlier mentioned driver and the driver source is just a pain to get to.

the other thing is in can't write it my self or i would have done it.