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SWAG to the rescue
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When the kids want to listen to an audio book in the woods, a frugal technologist makes the most of the free team swag collected over the years.
Some XP users might have an issue with Install Level 9.
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XP users may encounter an error while installing updates at Install level 9 (Update 8). The issue is resolved by updating to Install level 10 (Update 9). This update was released with the March build 7.0.2812.
Tags: Error Patch
Offline Layout for Windows Embedded Compact 7
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Offline Layout
Offline Layout is a new feature that has been released with the latest update of Windows Embedded Compact 7 and Windows Embedded Silverlight Tools. This feature can create a reusable layout of all the content a user would need to install, modify, or repair the software. The big advantage of this feature is that the update patches will only need to be downloaded once. Now, when patches need to be acquired, the layout folder can be used as the source.
Overview:
1. Select the options you want to add to your offline layout.
2. Select “Yes, create an offline layout.”
3. Allow offline layout to be created.
Quick tips:
· Have the original install DVD’s close by. It is quicker to use the DVD’s as a source rather than downloading. Note not all options are available for download.
· When updating and performing the offline layout only the options currently installed will be saved to the offline layout folder.
· Offline layout will only add files to the layout folder. It will never delete files from the folder.
· The folder can be shared to enable network access and the folder content can be copied anywhere.
· Uninstalling the software will not remove the offline layout folder or its content.
For more details read section below:
So how does one perform an offline layout? It is very simple. If you are installing for the first time or modifying a current install you will see a new screen titled “Install Offline Layout”. See Below:
By default, offline layout is not selected. Select “Yes, create an offline layout” to enable offline layout.
When “Yes, create an offline layout.” is selected, new controls appear on the screen. The location of where the layout folder will be created and an additional check box are displayed. This check box can be unchecked to allow only the creation of the offline layout folder without installing the product. In this case any currently installed options will not be modified. For this demonstration, I’ll leave the check box checked and click next.
The “Ready to Proceed” screen will appear, and a new icon may be displayed.
In this scenario, Platform Builder is being modified to the update 3 level, so the Update 6 patch is being removed. Update 3 is already applied to Platform builder, so only the offline layout action is performed on that package. ARMv5 is also being installed, hence the installation of Architecture Common updates.
This floppy disk icon is displayed when a package is planned to be saved to the offline layout folder, and no other action is being taken with the package.
Packages that are being installed or modified will also be saved in the offline layout folder.
The estimated size of the offline layout is displayed and added to the total disk space required.
· Tip: at this point it is a good idea to have your original install media handy.
· If your system has AutoRun enabled a second instance of the installer may start. Close it down if it does.
Once the acquire phase has completed the offline layout action will begin. The packages will be saved and the modify phase will begin. Once all modifying is complete the “Finished” screen will display.
The location of the offline layout folder is displayed as a link. Click on this link to open the offline layout folder.
The layout folder will contain the packages required for installing the options that have been selected. This includes any updates that the options may have. Performing a Full install with Offline layout will result in a layout folder like the shown below.
I have found that the quickest and easiest process is to update your current install to 7.0.2810 (Update7) without performing the Layout action. Then drop the Windows Embedded Compact 7 DVD into the drive and proceed to perform layout only action on all of the options you may ever want to install. From here on forward only new update folders will need to be acquired.
Links to more information:
http://blogs.msdn.com/b/icumove/ (Official Install Blog)
Tags: %temp%, Laying out offline, layout folder, Modify, Modify Windows Embedded Compact 7, Offline Layout, updating windows embedded compact 7, WCE7, WEDU, windows embedded CE7, windows Embedded compact 7, Windows Embedded Developer Update, WindowsEmbeddedDeveloperUpdate
How to check the current install level of Compact 7.
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There are several ways to determine your Windows Embedded Compact 7 install level.
For the typical developer the easiest method is to launch the WindowsEmbeddedCompact7.exe to the Modify screen. Here at the top left section the screen Current Install Level will be displayed under Found Version.
![clip_image002[4]](https://krakllc.files.wordpress.com/2011/12/clip_image0024.jpg "clip_image002[4]")
For those who would rather use a log file entry to determine the install level, you can search near the end of the last WindowsEmbeddedCompact7.00**.log in the user temp directory.
![clip_image003[5]](https://krakllc.files.wordpress.com/2011/12/clip_image0035.png "clip_image003[5]")
![clip_image004[5]](https://krakllc.files.wordpress.com/2011/12/clip_image0045.png "clip_image004[5]"){kind=small}
The third method is for more advanced users.
Warning: Changes made to the Windows Registry may affect the operations of the computer. Making a backup of the registry is highly recommended. Use Registry Editor, or other methods to access the registry at your own risk. For more information about the Windows Registry please go to:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/136393
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/256986
As of version 7.0.2807.0, (October 2011 Update ), the value of the InstalledLevel is stored in the registry.
Registry Editor can be used search for the value of InstalledLevel. Regedit.exe can be used on the cmdline or with the GUI.
For 32 bit machines:
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\{A4FF3FC0-A8B3-47c2-8627-CE1D2988D0D8}]
For 64 bit machines:
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\{A4FF3FC0-A8B3-47c2-8627-CE1D2988D0D8}]
The RegRead method is also able to programmatically retrieve the value of InstalledLevel.
More information about that method can be found here:
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/x05fawxd.aspx
Windows Embedded Compact 7 releases October updates.
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Updates are available for Windows Embedded Compact 7. These updates include changes for DCHP, MSFLASH, and NETIO. There are also changes to the installer software. There are two features added to the software that most people will never see, but will appreciate if they do. Sleep is now blocked by the software when content is being acquired or when an action is performed on an option. This will not over write the system’s power settings. Some updates can take a considerable amount of time to download, and to be applied. This feature prevents the system from going to an idle state where Sleep, Stand by, or Hibernate can take effect.
Of course there are still times when the system can enter into Sleep, Stand by, Hibernate, or even Shutdown while the software is running. To address the issue of having to uninstall everything in the event of an interruption to the software progress, a resume feature has been added. Previously the software was able to recognize that the state of the installation was compromised and an uninstall action would be performed to return the machine to a clean state. This can be annoying and costly in terms of time. The resume feature will keep track of the progress of the software. In the event of an interruption, such as a power loss, the software will store the current state. When the user logs in again the installer software is launched and will attempt to resume the action it was taking prior to the interruption. In the event of a reboot or power loss, the software will launch automatically when the user logs in.
One bug fix that is worth noting is the behavior of the download all check box and Shared Source. A user can select to download all of their content. Shared Source cannot be downloaded. Previously if a user with a retail version of the software wanted to install an option like Platform Builder and Shared Source but did not have Disk 1 in their DVD drive, they would be prompted for source. The user could select to download all the content. The software would proceed to download all of the content until it reached Shared Source. The user would not be able to uncheck the Download All check box, and would have to cancel the out of the software. Now the user can uncheck the Download All check box, and browse to the location of Shared Source.
Please let me know if you have a questions or comments.
Kyle
Links for more information:
http://blogs.msdn.com/b/icumove/ (Official Install Blog)
Finding log files for Windows Embedded Compact 7
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This post is a condensed version a post wrote and had published at http://blogs.msdn.com/b/icumove/archive/2011/08/12/troubleshooting-red-x-s-in-the-compact-7-installation.aspx
So please go to the above link for more detailed information on trouble shooting, or to ask a question about this topic.
Here is a clip of the post that is focused on finding the log files that Windows Embedded Compact 7 creates. These log files are in the user profile temp folder, of the user who ran the software. The easiest way to get to that folder is to click on Start and Select Run.
In the text window type %temp%, click Ok.
That will open your temp folder and you should see the log files listed.
All four of log files shown were created by the software. When some prerequisites are not found, an entry like the highlighted one here will explain why you are having a problem.
The snippet above is an entry showing that Visual Studios 2008 could not be found on the computer.
When Visual Studios 2008 is found at the proper version, an entry like this can be found in the log. 
If you are having issues, please visit this link: http://blogs.msdn.com/b/icumove/archive/2011/08/12/troubleshooting-red-x-s-in-the-compact-7-installation.aspx (Official Install Blog, Trouble Shooting post)
I have few posts lined up. Once I have them finished, I will be publishing them. Please check the site for updates in the next few weeks.
Kyle
Links for more information:
http://blogs.msdn.com/b/icumove/ (Official Install Blog)
Modifying Windows Embedded Compact 7
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The installation of Windows Embedded Compact 7 can be very large and complex. Users have the ability of installing, repairing, adding updates, removing updates, adding options, and removing options without ever uninstalling the product. Some users will work with one or two architectures, other users may develop for many architectures, based on several points in time. For that user, Windows Embedded Compact 7 has been deployed to allow the user to quickly and easily select options at a point in time that they require.
For example, a developer has installed on their system Platform Builder, English Documentation, and ARM v5 Architecture at the July 2011 Update level. The project that developer was working on is finished and the next project requires Arm v6 Architecture at the RDP RemoteFX Update level. So how does the developer configure their system for this project? It’s simple; let me show you how.
Start with opening Programs and Features from the control Panel, or in this case, Add or Remove Programs for XP, highlight the Windows Embedded Compact 7 entry and select “Change”:
![clip_image002[1]](https://krakllc.files.wordpress.com/2011/09/clip_image0021.jpg "clip_image002[1]")
Then Select Modify
![clip_image004[1]](https://krakllc.files.wordpress.com/2011/09/clip_image0041.jpg "clip_image004[1]")
The next screen will show the user what options are currently installed, and what level they are installed at.
![clip_image006[1]](https://krakllc.files.wordpress.com/2011/09/clip_image0061.jpg "clip_image006[1]")
The user will need to move the slider to middle spot, and will see that the label to the right now states “Revert to RDP RemoteFX Update”. The user also wants to add ARM V6 Architecture, so they check that option. The user decides that they no longer need English Documentation so they uncheck that option. Note that unchecking an option will result in that option being removed from the system:
![clip_image008[1]](https://krakllc.files.wordpress.com/2011/09/clip_image0081.jpg "clip_image008[1]")
When the user clicks on Next, the Ready to Proceed screen will appear and show the user the actions that will be performed. This shows that English Documentation will be uninstalled:
![clip_image010[1]](https://krakllc.files.wordpress.com/2011/09/clip_image0101.jpg "clip_image010[1]")
Scroll down a little and the user will see that the Update 2 for ARMV5 Architecture will be uninstalled:
![clip_image012[1]](https://krakllc.files.wordpress.com/2011/09/clip_image0121.jpg "clip_image012[1]")
Scroll down a bit more, and the user will see that ARM V6 Architecture will be installed at Update 1 level:
![clip_image014[1]](https://krakllc.files.wordpress.com/2011/09/clip_image0141.jpg "clip_image014[1]")
At this point the user can click Back to change the plan, or click Modify to proceed with the actions.
The options to be installed will be acquired first:
![clip_image016[1]](https://krakllc.files.wordpress.com/2011/09/clip_image0161.jpg "clip_image016[1]")
Options to be uninstalled next:
![clip_image018[1]](https://krakllc.files.wordpress.com/2011/09/clip_image0181.jpg "clip_image018[1]")
Options will be modified and installed last:
![clip_image020[1]](https://krakllc.files.wordpress.com/2011/09/clip_image0201.jpg "clip_image020[1]")
When the action has completed, the user will have Platform Builder, ARM v5 Architecture, and ARM v6 Architecture installed at the RDP level.
Key notes to remember:
· Any option that is NOT “Checked” will be uninstalled.
· Any option that is “Checked” will be installed.
· All options will be at the current install level. There will not be a time when ARM v5 is at update 1 level and ARM v6 is at Update 2 level at the same time.
Please let me know if you have a questions or comments.
Kyle
Links for more information:
http://blogs.msdn.com/b/icumove/ (Official Install Blog)
Windows Embedded Compact 7 Update
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We have been very busy with Windows Embedded Compact 7. Yesterday (8/10/2011) the latest update was published. Users who are using the WEDU plug-in might have already received the notification, and proceeded with the update. For everyone else with the software already installed, selecting the Update option as described in the previous post will also allow you to receive the update at your leisure. Just in case you missed the previous post: https://krakllc.wordpress.com/2011/07/25/updating-windows-embedded-compact-7/ .
This is what you will see when you check for an update:
You still have not tried the software out? Not a problem you can still download a free Evaluation copy from here: http://www.microsoft.com/windowsembedded/en-us/downloads/download-windows-embedded-compact-ce.aspx
That copy will have the updates already incorporated into the software, so you will not need to perform the update process.
I cannot say what the next few updates will be, but I can say that we are working hard to get them to you. I still plan on presenting the Modify Process, but a few other posts might come before it. Check back in for more information about Windows Embedded Compact 7. As always, I welcome questions and feedback.
Kyle
Links for more information:
http://blogs.msdn.com/b/icumove/ (Official Install Blog)
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