XP drivers on XPe

[Loque]

Hi All,

Apologies if this is the wrong place for this post, I couldn't find a specific section for XPe and seeing as it is a cut down version of XP I'm hoping this is the best place to post.

I'm looking to modify an XP driver to work on XPe - and am guessing, could be very wrong, that somewhere in the driver it specifies which OS's it will support, and I would like to change this.

This is because I have recently got a monitor with XPe installed (I am very lucky) and thought it might be possible to attach a USB DVB-T to it. I had one kicking about (Freecom USB DVB-T) and downloaded the XP drivers. After reading up and learning about EWF on XPe I attempted to plug in the device and install the driver - unfortunately XPe wouldn't allow this, and I am guessing it is because somewhere, in the driver, it specifies which OS the driver is compatible with, and XPe being an unusual flavour of XP, it wouldn't allow it. I could be wrong, XPe could have some differences that wont allow the driver, and that in normal circumstances XP drivers work on XPe?

screen: http://www.samsung.com/us/business/commercial-display-solutions/LH40MRTLBC/ZA

os: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windows_XP_Embedded#Windows_XP_Embedded

DVB-T: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Freecom-Digital-DVB-T-Freeview-receiver/dp/B000ALAWQ6

If theres any help, reading or guides you know of (even just on XP drivers or XPe) I would really appreciate the help.

Many thanks!

Loque

[jaclaz]

To disambiguate, XPe means "XP Embedded" (though widely used XPe can be confused with "XPE" , which is a sort of XP like environment in a PE - where PE is again Pre-installation Environment).

Basically XP Embedded is nothing but "normal" XP in a "modularized" or "componentized" version. (there are some slight diferences and additional components, but nothing really "important" that would justify the behaviouur you describe)

There is no (afaik) limitation of the kind you describe in "normal" XP Embedded (though it is possible that Samsung "forced" one).

It is more likely that the XP driver you attempted using "rely" or "depend on" any number of service(s) or however "components" that are "standard" in a "real XP" but that have not been included in the particular XP Embedded build Samsung made for that device.

You have to think at XP vs. XP embedded as you would think of an already built LEGO house vs. a normal LEGO kit to build it, BUT WITHOUT any meaningful schematics to follow when attempting to assemble the house .

While with XP you get the house pre-assembled (and also with blocks "glued" together ) , with XP Embedded you get just the blocks (all of them) so you can build (if you are very clever) the same house as the pre-assembled one or (say) a cube of bricks with no openings, additionally this "kit" has also wheels, axles and what not that of course are not used in the actual house.

This gives freedom to the actual device developers but obviously does not guarantee that what would work on a full build (like entering from a door and exiting from a window ) will also work in the "freestyle thingy" that was assembled from the blocks (a solid cube on wheels).

jaclaz

[Tripredacus]

There are two different versions of XP Embedded, one is componentized and the other is more like regular XP. In either one the Embedded Partner (that created the image) can lock the OS down. Typically any XP driver can work on XPe, although some companies do have XPe specific drivers for some reason or another.

So basically, this won't end up being about driver compatibility, but rather you have an XPe that has certain functions restricted, and it is also possible that they have enforced RAMoverlay on the OS so that changes you make won't be saved on a reboot. These protections are put in for a reason, and helping you get past them (while not against the XPe license agreement which I have read) is probably a violation of the license terms that came with the system.

What I can recommend as the legal course of action would be to contact the company that has sold you the appliance and request for a future version of the appliance support the device you are trying to use. This way, they can go back to the Embedded Partner or OEM to see about getting the support in there.

[Loque]

Thanks guys, really appreciate that.

jaclaz: Didnt know it was just a componentized version, great news - device driver should still work tho I would have thought - I'll check to see what services and applications are installed. The error I was getting was specific to the driver, saying something like - "this driver does not contain information about your hardware". Which is odd, its definitely the freecom usb dvb-t stick (it says freecom on it) and I got the drivers from their site. Might try the device on an XP VPC image to check the driver is oki, or maybe get the drivers from the CD.

Tripredacus: Your talking about EWF http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enhanced_Write_Filter which can be managed. I also found a GUI for it http://www.thevod.org/ which was nice to use. EWF is used on XPe implementations on TV's for the good reason that the TV may loose power at any point (someone turning it off incorrectly or just sudden loss of power) and could corrupt the XPe install. Very nice feature imho. The first time I used it I installed chrome, winrar etc... rebooted and it had all disappeared, took me some reading to find out that it had EWF and what it was :¬) -- I think this indicates my current experience level with this flavour of XP :`D

Is there any reading I can do on device drivers for XP that you know of? Any more info on XPe would be great too.

Thanks so much guys!

Loque

[Tripredacus]

Not knowing if you have WEE or WES, or how documentation applies to an end-user perspective, I can only provide this link:

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms950428.aspx

The websites I use for Embedded are in the Embedded Channel. If you are a Microsoft Partner, you may be able to log into the Partner Portal and find these additional resources.

[Loque]

Thanks Tripredacus, it is WES, and I have found the MSDN forum from your links (many thanks) http://social.msdn.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/embeddedwindowsmisc/threads

I'll try posting here to see if they can help me further. Thanks again!

[Loque]

Apparently something about BDA? Have no idea what that is yet, off to do some reading :`)