Windows Embedded Custom Image Development

To protect our customers from the financial outlay and necessary learning curve of purchasing and using the Microsoft Windows Embedded development tools, DSL can take on this responsibility, and does so in a variety of ways.

At its very basic level, all our platforms are available with a pre‐installed Windows XP Embedded ‘one‐size‐fits‐all’ image. This image comprises the most common components used (from a repository of >10,000), which makes it ideally suited for web based or relatively low complexity applications. This image will probably not have all the necessary background components required for complex applications involving the less common components of Windows XP, or indeed those utilising 3rd party software.

If requested DSL will offer guidance on which components are included in a specific image, should (for example) a requirement be a .NET framework, or C++ visual runtimes etc exist. As part of its ongoing support to clients DSL offer this service free of charge, when combined with a hardware and XPe license purchase.

For applications where this ‘one‐size‐fits‐all’ image simply is not suitable, perhaps where customisation is required (it’s flexibility is one of the main advantages of the OS, including Write Filters, adjustable boot logos, modified shell etc), or more oblique components are required for the software to function – DSL offer a chargeable image creation/modification service.

This service can range from a simple modification of an image to include a specific component, to building images completely from scratch against a client supplied specification. For the latter, the opportunities are endless, infact the XP architecture can be hidden entirely from the end clients view – so no one wouldn’t even know it’s a ‘PC’.

Please speak to your DSL Sales representative for further details and/or pricing on these services.

Advice for users of standard images.

Please note that whilst XP Embedded is an Embedded OS usually installed in flash media, unless a write filter is enabled there is no protection from image corruption if the power is suddenly removed. DSL can provide images with write filters to prevent corruption to an image in this way, but as these are specifically tweaked to suit each individual configuration it is not viable to employ these on the standard off‐the‐shelf images.

As a result of this, please ensure that you correctly SHUTDOWN the system and do not remove power until instructed to do so. Should the image become corrupted due to incorrectly powering down DSL are able to reflash the flash medium back to it’s original state, though please be aware this may be chargeable.

Related Link: What is Windows Embedded?