Embedded Core (eCore) (Standard 7 SP1)
7/8/2014
This package is the smallest deployable image in Windows Embedded Standard 7. It contains boot-critical drivers and basic support for security, servicing, and networking. The Windows Embedded Core is delivered in the highly compressed Windows image (.wim) file-based format. It makes it easy to use image-based tools to add packages and deploy a customized image. Both x86 and AMD64 versions of the Windows Embedded Core are available in Standard 7.
For more information on the specific contents of the Windows Embedded Core package, see Windows Embedded Core.
Functionality
The Windows Embedded Core is the building block for packages and embedded applications. It contains basic functionality required by other dependent packages, and it also contains the APIs commonly needed by most embedded applications. Some functionality that is provided by the Windows Embedded Core package includes:
- Support for TCP/IP, IPV4/6, DHCP, HTTP, DNS Client, NETBIOS, and SMB/CIFS.
- Windows cryptography APIs, including local security authority (LSA) authentication, credentials management, Winlogon, and authorization.
- Basic APIs for the Windows graphics system.
- Support for Plug and Play hardware.
- Support for servicing through Deployment Imaging Servicing and Management (DISM).
Note
User Account Control (UAC) is disabled in the Windows Embedded Core. Therefore, an Administrator's account is not required when you change system settings.
The x86 and AMD64 versions of the Windows Embedded Core are very similar, but there are some differences in functionality between them.
Driver Support
The Windows Embedded Core includes a very small subset of the Windows 7 inbox drivers and class installers, about 10 MB. This subset, known as the core inbox drivers, contains most boot critical drivers except for the SCSIAdapter class.
Language Support
Fonts and language resources are completely separated from the Windows Embedded Core. Therefore, you do not need a different version of the Windows Embedded Core for every locale. The Windows Embedded Core supports any number of fonts and languages. The language resources that are kept separate from the Windows Embedded Core are contained in language packs that you can add to an image by using the Standard 7 Toolkit.
Note
Because the Windows Embedded Core does not have any fonts and language resources by default, you must add at least one language pack to your image.
Shell Support
A complete user interface is not provided by the Windows Embedded Core, and neither are any Windows-based applications or components that rely on the presence of a complete GUI or other advanced Windows functionality, for example, Windows Media Player technologies and Internet Explorer Internet browser. You can add these applications and other applications or functionality that you might want to an image by using the Standard 7 Toolkit.
The Windows Embedded Core does not include a shell. However, you are prompted to include at least one shell when you create an image in Image Configuration Editor. The default shell is the command line.
Settings
The Windows Embedded Core package settings are not able to be modified in Image Configuration Editor as changes to these settings may result in a non-functioning image.
Size
The estimated size of the x86 version of Windows Embedded Core is designed to be under 1 GB though the x64 version will be larger.
See Also
Concepts
Technologies and Features in Embedded Core