Chapter 2. Overview and Evaluation

Introduction
This section will help you understand Windows Embedded Standard 2009 (Standard 2009) to determine its suitability to your product design.
Standard 2009 is the successor to Microsoft Windows XP Embedded. While it has a different name, it is in fact the next successive generation of Windows XP Embedded, using a similar image development system, incorporating Windows XP Professional Service Pack 3 updates and latest key technologies. A principal reason for the naming convention is to maintain product naming consistency with the full suite of Microsoft Embedded products.
When you see references to "Windows XP Embedded" in this document, such references are generally applicable to your Standard 2009 design. The same rule applies to links to content found on the web.
Windows Embedded Standard Developers (OEMS) who are already using the predecessor product (Windows XP Embedded) have two choices of migration path from SP2 to SP3. They can:
Use their existing licensed product (Windows XP Embedded SP2, Feature Pack 2007 and Update Rollup 1.0) and then upgrade their product to SP3 using the free download for that purpose, or
Perform an upgrade or all new installation using Windows Embedded Standard 2009.
Included in both approaches are the key features of Windows XP Service Pack 3:
Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) 6.1
Windows Media Player 11
Internet Explorer 7
Wi-Fi Protected Access 2 (WPA2)
Network Access Protection (NAP)
Microsoft core XML Services (MSXML) 6.0
Background Intelligent Transfer Server (BITS) 2.5
The table on the following page compares the differences between the two choices.
Differences between Standard 2009 and upgrading to Windows XP Embedded SP3 (XPE SP3)
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Standard 2009
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XPE SP3 Upgrade
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Support Lifecycle and Security Updates availability on the OEM Secure web site.
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5 years standard, 5 years extended
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2 years from the release of Standard 2009
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Tools installation process
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A single installation (first uninstall any pre-existing XP Embedded tools and database)
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Must run the successive tools and database installations (SP1, SP2, FP2007, Update Rollup 1.0) as a prerequisite
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Runtime PIDS
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New PIDs required, unique to Standard 2009. Cannot use XPE SP2 vintage PIDS.
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Use XPE SP2 vintage PIDs - cannot use Standard 2009 PIDS
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Other features
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Key technologies:
Silverlight 1.0
.NET Framework 3.5
Enterprise Features macro
Windows Update Agent 3.0 (WUA) to accommodate WSUS 3.0, MBSA
SCCM 2007 Client Prerequisites macro
The platform for future innovations such as Silverlight 2.0
Sysprep1 (Windows System Preparation) used with SCCM
Componentized Windows Kernel Mode Driver Framework (KMDF)
In box support for latest chipsets from Intel, AMD, VIA
Test Application Compatibility macro component, used for full feature testing
Thin Client macro component
Virtual PC 2007 Helper Macro component
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When evaluating whether to upgrade to Standard 2009, perhaps the most important consideration is that Standard 2009 offers the maximum Support Lifecycle because this affects the future Serviceability of deployed devices, and ensures you have a development system in place that accommodates future updates and enhancements from Microsoft.
All new designs should use Standard 2009 for that reason and also to ensure continuous Security Updates are available for the image over the Support Lifecycle.
Standard 2009 incorporates all of the features offered in prior releases of Windows XP Embedded SP2, up to and including Update Rollup 1.0.
In addition it offers Windows XP Professional SP3 updates as well as new Standard-2009-specific features. For more information click on the following links:
Windows Embedded Standard 2009 Overview
Windows Embedded Standard Key Features
Windows XP Service Pack 3 Overview (document download)
List of fixes that are included in Windows XP Service Pack 3 (KB 946480)
If you have pre-SP3 embedded devices that you need to inspect and service, you should retain your old Windows XP Embedded tools (pre-SP3) and database for that purpose. Consider keeping your old tools on your existing development system, and setting up a new or different development computer for the purpose of containing Standard 2009 or XPE SP3 tools and database.
Another reason to retain your older tools and database may be if you own pre-Standard 2009 runtime PIDS because they do not work with Standard 2009. Continue building your older pre-Standard 2009 based devices until you have consumed your older PIDS.
Evaluating Windows Embedded Standard 2009 (Standard 2009)
This section provides links to information that can help you evaluate Standard 2009. You can identify the requirements of your project, and then determine how Standard 2009 can best fulfill those requirements.
Windows Embedded Standard 2009 Overview
The following link contains excellent training reference materials:
Learn Microsoft Windows Embedded Standard 2009
For comparison purposes, the following link contains training materials for the predecessor product, XP Embedded:
Learn Microsoft Windows XP Embedded
MSDN contains a lot of information about XP Embedded starting here. Scan the table of contents for specific topics.
Windows XP Embedded
The following Windows Embedded XP Team Blog article lists many commonly used links to resources on the net, to help you get started:
You need help? Here it is!
Use the following link to review a list of free Windows XP Embedded downloads. This link was created by performing an Advanced Search at http://www.microsoft.com/downloads:
Windows XP Embedded Downloads
Tutorial: Building and Deploying a Run-Time Image
Additional tutorials
Windows XP Embedded Tutorials
The content at the following link was written during the SP1 timeframe but remains useful as general information for Standard 2009 developers:
Microsoft Windows Embedded Studio Development Tools for Windows XP Embedded
A preview of the development process:
Development Process
Case studies
Microsoft Windows XP Embedded Case Studies
Standard 2009 target devices support the same Intel Pentium-compatible (586 or higher) processors that are compatible with Windows XP Professional. Intel 286, Intel 386, and Intel 486 class processors are not supported. Officially, the low limit for supported processors is the Pentium II (233) MHz.
Native 64 bit processor mode is not supported.
The easiest way to validate a processor and its motherboard for Standard 2009 is to confirm that Windows XP Professional (x86) installs and works in the target platform.
A specific requirement of the processor is that it must support the following machine instructions:
It is important that you install and use the latest version of Standard 2009 in order to maximize the runtime's lifecycle support offered by Microsoft.
For information about product lifecycle support, visit the following Microsoft Web site:
Microsoft Support Lifecycle
Once you have obtained licensed tools through an Authorized Microsoft Distributor, the Distributor will provide you with access to the OEM Secure web site which contains Product Support Lifecycle articles.
Licensing considerations
For general licensing information for Standard 2009, visit the following Microsoft Web site:
How to Buy Windows Embedded Operating Systems
Standard 2009 does not use product activation. Product activation is a feature of Windows XP for desktop systems.
However, the Standard 2009 runtime image that you create will be associated with the specific hardware features of the motherboard hardware. This means that after the image has completed First Boot Agent (FBA) on a specific motherboard, attempts to copy the post-FBA image to a device with a different motherboard design is likely to fail.
Microsoft support
Windows Embedded Support Services
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