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Develop with Virtual CEPC (Compact 7)

3/12/2014

A virtual CEPC is an instance of Windows Embedded Compact that runs on a virtual machine. The virtual machine emulates a Compact 7 x86-based hardware platform and runs under Windows 7, Windows Vista, or Windows XP. You can interact with your virtual CEPC in the same way that you would interact with a physical development board to develop, test, and debug Compact 7 applications.

This development guide explains in detail the process of creating a virtual CEPC and applications for it.

For more information about Windows Embedded Compact development and Platform Builder, see The Build System and Build with Platform Builder.

Prerequisites

To create a virtual CEPC, you need the appropriate virtual PC software running on an appropriate version of Windows.

Required Software

Virtual CEPC requires the following minimum software configurations.

Windows 7

  • Windows 7 Enterprise, Windows 7 Ultimate, or Windows 7 Professional
  • Windows Virtual PC
  • Visual Studio 2008
  • Windows Embedded Compact 7

Windows Vista and Windows XP

  • Windows Vista Enterprise, Windows Vista Ultimate, Windows Vista Business, or Windows XP Professional
  • Microsoft Virtual PC 2007
  • Visual Studio 2008
  • Windows Embedded Compact 7

Installing Software

You can download Windows Virtual PC from the Windows Virtual PC download page. Virtual PC 2007 is available from the Virtual PC 2007 download page.

We recommend that you install the latest version of the software with any service packs when you install the prerequisite software.

When you install Windows Embedded Compact 7, Virtual CEPC will be included automatically if you select Installs all required, optional, and 3rd party options in the Install Options dialog box. You enable Virtual CEPC support in the Install Options dialog box if you select Customize your installation, and then select the following options in the Customize Installation dialog box:

  • Platform Builder
  • x86 Architecture

In This Section

  • Modify Virtual CEPC Configuration Settings
    Describes how, when you use the boot loader provided with Compact 7, you can enter a configuration menu that lets you change display settings, select a different debug port, change network settings, or select a different boot source. You can save these settings so that your virtual CEPC uses them again on subsequent reboots.
  • Create a Stand-Alone Virtual CEPC
    Describes how to create a virtual CEPC whose VHD has an OS image so that the virtual CEPC does not have to get the OS image from Platform Builder.
  • Create an SDK for Virtual CEPC
    Describes how to create a Software Development Kit (SDK) for applications to use, and how to test it by creating a simple application.

See Also

Concepts

OS Development