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POSReady 2009 FAQ

  • Article

7/14/2010

Microsoft Corporation

July 2009

This is a set of frequently asked questions about Windows Embedded POSReady 2009.

Contents

Common Questions

  • What is the difference between Windows Embedded Point of Service (WEPOS) and POSReady 2009?
  • What is the difference between POSReady 2009 and Windows XP Professional?
  • What is the difference between POSReady 2009 and Windows Embedded Standard 2009?
  • What is WinPE and how does it relate to POSReady 2009?
  • Will POSReady 2009 run all my applications?

Setup and Development

  • Are Embedded Enabling Features such as EWF or FBWF included in POSReady 2009?
  • My unattended installation fails when trying to overwrite certain .inf files because they are marked as read-only. How can I solve this?
  • I am trying to do a memory dump, but the dump file never gets created. How can I solve this?

Image Customization

  • How do I set my theme to Windows Classic on POSReady 2009 using Unattend.xml?
  • Can custom security templates be used on POSReady 2009?
  • What are Language Collections in POSReady 2009?
  • Are MUI Packs available for POSReady 2009?

Deployment and Maintenance

  • How do I run an unattended install of POSReady 2009 from a Windows Deployment Services (WDS) server?
  • Why is my custom script specified in the [GUIRunOnce] section of sysprep.inf not executed after Sysprep runs?
  • How do I differentiate between Windows Embedded Point of Service and POSReady deployed images?
  • How can I manage and update my connected POSReady device?
  • Can I use CONFIGMGR or SCOM with POSReady 2009?
  • Can I use FBWF as antivirus protection on POSReady 2009?
  • How can I monitor the health of my device?

Common Questions

What are the differences between Windows Embedded Point of Service (WEPOS) and POSReady 2009?

  • Windows Preinstallation Environment (Windows PE), which is included with Windows Embedded POSReady 2009, was updated to Windows Preinstallation Environment (Windows PE) 2005 (the version that was included with Windows Server 2003 Service Pack (SP) 1 and Windows Fundamentals for Legacy PCs (WinFLP). Setup continues to run in the Microsoft .NET Framework 1.1; however, Setup may install the .NET Framework 2.0 and/or the .NET Framework 3.5 if selected.
  • In Windows Embedded Point of Service (WEPOS), optional components were installed by a Windows Imaging Format (.wim) file from components that were derived from the Windows Embedded components. Now, they are installed by a Setup Information file (.inf), by using files on the installation media in the i386 directory. This matches the Windows XP method of installing or uninstalling components. Microsoft .NET Framework and Microsoft POS for .NET are installed through their own installers. The base OS is still installed by a .wim file.
  • In POSReady, optional components include not only programs, but also fonts (Asian and Complex Script) and Multilanguage User Interface (MUI), whereas WEPOS included only programs. Additionally, in POSReady, the user can install and uninstall these components.
  • The Unattend.xml file that Setup uses changed significantly after WEPOS. The biggest change relates to selecting components. WEPOS used a hard-coded list, whereas POSReady is more data-driven. There is no separate Unattended Generator utility for POSReady. Therefore, to make an Unattend.xml file, you must run a /GUIOnly setup. Pre/Post Setup scripts are the same.
  • USB boot is also natively supported in Setup for POSReady.

For more information, see POSReady 2009 vs. WEPOS 1 (PDF).

What is the difference between POSReady 2009 and Windows XP Professional?

  • Windows Embedded POSReady 2009 contains the following Embedded Enabling Features:
    • File-Based Write Filter (FBWF), which redirects writes to disk to RAM and helps protect the underlying OS image.
    • USB Boot, which allows installation from a USB key.
  • Office productivity applications are not licensed to be run on POSReady.
  • POS for .NET is included with POSReady.
  • POSReady does not contain Help files, which reduces its footprint.
  • Both products use the same management software.

For more information, see POSReady 2009 vs. Windows XP Professional (PDF).

What is the difference between POSReady 2009 and Windows Embedded Standard 2009?

  • Windows Embedded POSReady 2009 is optimized with only the features and components necessary for full-function POS devices in retail and hospitality organizations. This product is an installable operating system much like Windows XP, whereas Windows Embedded Standard 2009 is a toolkit for creating a custom operating system on a development computer prior to deploying to the production systems.
  • POSReady can use Windows XP Professional drivers. You do not have to componentize drivers as for Standard 2009.
  • POSReady does not offer the Embedded Enabling Feature: Enhanced Write Filter (EWF).
  • POSReady supports POS for .NET to interface with Unified Point of Service UnifiedPOS-standard peripherals.
  • POSReady contains Microsoft Silverlight 2.0. Windows Embedded Standard 2009 includes Silverlight 1.0.
  • POSReady provides Language Collections.

For more information, see POSReady 2009 vs. Windows Embedded Standard (PDF).

What is WinPE and how does it relate to POSReady 2009?

WinPE is a minimal version of Windows that you can use to boot the system during the initial installation of POSReady and Windows Embedded for Point of Service.

Will POSReady 2009 run all my applications?

Windows Embedded POSReady 2009 is built on the Windows XP Professional base. Applications that are compatible with Windows XP Professional should run on POSReady. As always, you must thoroughly validate your applications to guarantee that they behave as expected before you deploy them to production. You must also review applicable licensing agreements to make sure you can use the application on POSReady. For example, applications such as Microsoft Office are restricted, thereby preventing the user from using the application on POSReady.

Setup and Development

Are Embedded Enabling Features such as EWF or FBWF included in POSReady 2009?

The minimum installation of POSReady includes FBWF in a disabled state. The Administrator should enable FBWF using FBWFMGR and configure its protection parameters. FBWF support also includes the Registry Filter Embedded Enabling Feature.

POSReady supports USB boot. It does not include EWF.

My unattended installation fails when trying to overwrite certain .inf files because they are marked as read-only. How can I solve this?

  1. Put a copy of the POSReady Setup CD onto your device.
  2. Copy the .inf files to the <POSReady Setup CD>\I386\Inf folder.

I am trying to do a memory dump, but the dump file is never created. How can I solve this?

When setting the dump file path for a kernel memory dump or a complete memory dump, do not use environment variables. For example, use C:\Windows\Memory.dmp instead of %SystemRoot%\Memory.dmp.

For a small memory dump, environment variables can be used, but make sure that Savedump.exe and Dbgeng.dll exist under %Windows%\System32.

Image Customization

How do I set my theme to Windows Classic on POSReady 2009 using Unattend.xml?

Add the following RunOnceCommands to the <RunOnce> section of your Unattend.xml file.

<RunOnceCommand FilePath="c:\Windows\System32\reg.exe" Attributes="DELETE HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Themes /f" Flags="0" ErrorControl="0" Reboot="False" Timeout="0" >
    <DisplayName Value="Set Theme as WindowsClassic (1 of 6)" />
    <Description Value="Remove CustomInstallTheme initialization so Windows Classic Theme appears." />
</RunOnceCommand>
<RunOnceCommand FilePath="c:\Windows\System32\reg.exe" Attributes="DELETE HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Themes /f" Flags="0" ErrorControl="0" Reboot="False" Timeout="0" >
    <DisplayName Value="Set Theme as WindowsClassic (2 of 6)" />
    <Description Value="Remove CustomInstallTheme initialization so Windows Classic Theme appears." />
</RunOnceCommand>
<RunOnceCommand FilePath="c:\Windows\System32\reg.exe" Attributes="DELETE HKU\.DEFAULT\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion /f" Flags="0" ErrorControl="0" Reboot="False" Timeout="0" >
    <DisplayName Value="Set Theme as WindowsClassic (3 of 6)" />
    <Description Value="Remove CustomInstallTheme initialization so Windows Classic Theme appears." />
</RunOnceCommand>
<RunOnceCommand FilePath="c:\Windows\System32\reg.exe" Attributes="DELETE HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\ThemeManager /f" Flags="0" ErrorControl="0" Reboot="False" Timeout="0" >
    <DisplayName Value="Set Theme as WindowsClassic (4 of 6)" />
    <Description Value="Remove CustomInstallTheme initialization so Windows Classic Theme appears." />
</RunOnceCommand>
<RunOnceCommand FilePath="c:\Windows\System32\reg.exe" Attributes="DELETE HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\ThemeManager /f" Flags="0" ErrorControl="0" Reboot="False" Timeout="0" >
    <DisplayName Value="Set Theme as WindowsClassic (5 of 6)" />
    <Description Value="Remove CustomInstallTheme initialization so Windows Classic Theme appears." />
</RunOnceCommand>
<RunOnceCommand FilePath="c:\Windows\System32\reg.exe" Attributes="DELETE HKU\.DEFAULT\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\ThemeManager /f" Flags="0" ErrorControl="0" Reboot="False" Timeout="0" >
    <DisplayName Value="Set Theme as WindowsClassic (6 of 6)" />
    <Description Value="Remove CustomInstallTheme initialization so Windows Classic Theme appears." />
</RunOnceCommand>

Can custom security templates be used on POSReady 2009?

You can apply custom security templates on Windows Embedded POSReady 2009. POSReady includes the same sample security templates that are included in Windows XP. By default, the predefined security templates from Windows XP Professional SP3 are stored in the %SystemRoot%\Security\Templates folder.

For detailed information about security templates, see the following Web sites:

What are Language Collections in POSReady 2009?

Windows Embedded POSReady 2009 uses the same language collections as Windows XP. In Windows XP, the 17 Language Groups that have been central to international support in Windows 2000 have been consolidated into three major Language Collections to simplify installation and improve user experience.

The Language Collections are as follows:

  • Basic collection (installed on all languages of the OS)
  • Complex script collection (always installed on Arabic and Hebrew localized operating systems)
  • East Asian collection (always installed on operating systems localized for East Asian)

Language Collections offer expanded functionality over language groups. They allow the use of more locales and languages without the inconvenience of constantly adding or removing desired languages, thus improving multilingual computing and reducing IT support costs.

For more information about Language Collections, see the following Microsoft Web sites:

Are MUI Packs available for POSReady 2009?

The POSReady Setup media includes Multilingual User Interface (MUI) packs for the same 32 languages supported by the Windows XP Professional MUI Pack, which can be added to or removed from the system at any time.

Deployment and Maintenance

How do I run an unattended install of POSReady 2009 from a Windows Deployment Services server?

You can only run Windows Embedded POSReady 2009 Setup on the version of Windows PE included on the installation media, which is incompatible with Windows Deployment Services (WDS). To do a Windows Imaging Format (WIM) deployment, you must first install POSReady on a reference device and then capture the image to a .wim file by using a capture utility.

To run an unattended installation from a share, if your WDS role is currently installed in "mixed" mode, you can set up a POSReady image for WDS Legacy installation. For more information, see Installing POSReady by Using Remote Desktop in POSReady Help.

POSReady Setup requires a custom version of Windows Preinstallation Environment 2005 (1.x) that has .NET 1.1 support. POSReady Setup will not work with Windows Preinstallation Environment 2.0. POSReady Setup relies on Plug and Play information from Windows Preinstallation Environment 1.x (XP kernel) to install device drivers. Windows PE 2.0 is based on the Vista Kernel and has different Plug and Play data associated with it. You can do an image installation from Server 2008 WDS. However, you cannot run Setup in this environment because you cannot replace the Windows PE 2.0 boot image with the custom Windows PE 2005 image. You must use Server 2003 RIS if you want to deploy your image by using the POSReady Setup wizard.

Why is my custom script specified in the [GUIRunOnce] section of sysprep.inf not executed after Sysprep runs?

You can add the commands from your script directly into the HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Runonce registry key so they are present for first login.

If you want to use Sysprep and you are using the Registry Filter service, you must disable the Registry Filter service. The Registry Filter service complements the File Based Write Filter service; you should disable both in a session prior to the session when you run Sysprep.

RunOnce commands in sysprep.inf will execute successfully after you disable the Registry Filter service with a REG file containing the following:

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\RegFilter]
"Start"=dword:00000004

How do I differentiate between Windows Embedded Point of Service and POSReady deployed images?

There is a VB Script file on POSReady images that you can use to determine which OS is deployed, as follows:

  • If the file \windows\system32\osver.vbs exists, this indicates that the OS is POSReady 
  • The logic in osver.vbs shows you how to check the OS version
  • Running osver.vbs displays an informational dialog box indicating which OS the customer is running. You would need to deploy osver.vbs on Windows Embedded Point of Service or Windows XP, but it will support either OS.

You can also click Start, click Run, type winver.exe, and then click OK.

How can I manage and update my connected POSReady device?

Windows Embedded POSReady 2009 can be remotely managed and updated by using the following tools:

  • Windows Update
  • System Center Configuration Manager (ConfigMgr)
  • Device Update Agent (DUA)
  • System Center Operations Manager

Can I use ConfigMgr or SCOM with POSReady 2009?

Yes, you can use System Center Configuration Manager (ConfigMgr) or System Center Operations Manager (SCOM) to manage POSReady machines. To distinguish POSReady or Windows Embedded Point of Service from other machines on the network you can extend the hardware inventory to collect information in the registry, such as querying the product version from the HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows Embedded Point of Service\Version or

HKLM\Software\Microsoft\POSReady\Version registry keys.

  • For more logic to identify the OS, see the OSVER.VBS file included with POSReady in the Windows\System32 directory.

Can I use FBWF as antivirus protection on POSReady 2009?

No. FBWF does not replace antivirus software. FBWF will not prevent a system from becoming infected or prevent a virus from spreading to another device on the network.

How can I monitor the health of my device?

The following tools can be used perform security checks and to monitor the health of the device.

  • Microsoft Baseline Security Analyzer (MBSA), which you use to determine the security state of the device for compliance with Microsoft security recommendations. It also offers specific remediation guidance. You can download MBSA from the Microsoft Download Center.
  • Windows Firewall (included in POSReady), which monitors the health of your device.
  • Group Policy tools (included in POSReady), which you use to review local/domain security policies for your device.