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Using Visual Studio 2005 to debug against Windows CE 5.0 devices without using ActiveSync

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We got a few posts from customers asking us on how best to debug a Windows CE 5.0 device without using Active Sync. Edward Xu, who is a Software Design Engineer/Test in our group, put together this information that will be useful in this regards.

This information only applies to the Visual Studio 2005 Beta 1 and the November CTP Drop. When newer functional device bits are available via new CTPs or the next Beta, we will update this Blog to reflect the changes.

Without the help of ActiveSync, VS 2005 does not automatically copy the connectivity binaries down to the device and hence debugging becomes problematic.

In order to use debugger on Windows CE 5.0 devices without active sync, you need to:

Step 1. Manually copy the following files down to the device

For VS 2005 Beta 1 users: Please Copy
Clientshutdown.exe
ConmanClient2.exe
ConmanSurrogate.exe
ConmanRPC_DLL.dll
TcpConnectionA.dll

From the desktop folder:
 <VS Install Dir>\compactframeworksdk\connectionmanager\target\wce400\<CPU Type>, to \windows on device

For VS 2005 November CTP users: Please Copy
Clientshutdown.exe
ConmanClient2.exe
TcpConnectionA.dll

From the desktop folder:
 <VS Install Dir>\compactframeworksdk\connectionmanager\target\wce400\<CPU Type>, to \windows on device
And Copy
EdbgTL.dll
From the desktop folder: <VS Install Dir>\smartdevices\debugger\target\wce400\<CPU Type>, to \windows on device

Step 2. Manually launch the conmanclient2.exe

On the device side, open the command prompt and run
Conmanclient2.exe /transport:tcpconnectiona.dll /property:port=5655 /id:Con

Step 3. Set the correct IP address

On the desktop side, open VS 2005
Tools à options à device tools à devices
Choose Windows CE 5.0 device, click on “properties”.
On the “Windows CE 5.0 device properties” dialog, click on “configure”.
On the “Configure TCP/IP” Transport dialog, choose “use specific IP address” and type in the IP address of your windows CE 5.0 device.
Click OK.

Now debugger is ready to go, and you should be able to deploy and debug program(s) running on Windows CE 5.0 device now.