New downloads for Windows XP Embedded - .NET Framework 2.0 component and resource documentation

There have been a couple of new items released in the past couple of weeks for Windows XP Embedded that I wanted to draw your attention to in case you missed them.

.NET Framework 2.0 component for Windows XP Embedded SP2

This is a new component that you can add to your XP Embedded SP2 database and runtimes to install the .NET Framework 2.0. This version of the .NET Framework 2.0 is a true XP Embedded component and not just the same MSI-based installer that was previously released. Depending on your scenario, you may choose to install this or the MSI component.

Windows XP Embedded SP2 Resource Kit

This is a collection of valuable documentation about various aspects of Windows XP Embedded development. It includes the following items:

  • Windows XP Embedded SP2 overview and evaluation - introduction to Windows XP Embedded, what products are available, how XP Embedded differs from XP Professional
  • Windows XP Embedded SP2 development guide - how to use the XP Embedded tools to build, deploy and test XP Embedded runtime images
  • Embedded enabling features (EEFs) - this includes tons of detailed information about device update agent (DUA), enhanced write filter (EWF), El Torito and bootable CD-ROMs, CMI Explorer, and remote boot; I highly recommend looking at this document if you plan on using any EEFs in your runtime images
  • Windows XP Embedded SP2 troubleshooting guide - how to narrow down issues when your images don't build, boot or function like you would expect
  • Windows XP Embedded SP2 servicing guide - technical options for servicing existing runtime images, and how to approach choosing between the available technologies
  • Installing and Servicing .NET Framework in Windows XP Embedded Devices - behind-the-scenes look at how the .NET Framework Windows XP Embedded components are built and how to service them in runtime images. This document was written during the process of creating the XP Embedded component for the .NET Framework 2.0 from the MSI-based .NET Framework 2.0 setup. As a result, this document provides an in-depth look into .NET Framework setup in general and I recommend looking at it even if you are not an embedded developer but are curious about what the .NET Framework setup does behind the scenes
  • Windows XP Embedded SP2 component manifest - a spreadsheet listing each component in XP Embedded SP2, including a brief description of what the component is for, whether or not the component offers customizable settings in Target Designer, what macro component(s) the component is a member of, and any Windows service binaries that are a part of the component