Build a Windows Embedded Thin Client

https://www.microsoft.com/windowsembedded/en-us/download-8-standard.aspx

Before installing Windows Embedded 7 (WE7) on your machine, make sure it meets the requirements necessary to run WE7. A complete list of these requirements can be found at:

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-US/library/ff793769%28v=winembedded.60%29.aspx

An evaluation copy of Windows Embedded 7 can be obtained from here:

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsembedded/en-us/downloads/download-windows-embedded-standard-7.aspx

This will require a quick registration then you can download the following files:

Standard 7 SP1 32bit IBW.part1.exe Standard 7 SP1 32bit IBW.part2.rar Standard 7 SP1 32bit IBW.part3.rar Standard 7 SP1 32bit IBW.part4.rar Standard 7 SP1 32bit IBW.part5.rar

Run the .exe file and it will compile a 2.5GB .iso. Create your bootable DVD from this file.

In a departure from typical embedded operating system installs this will install much like a Windows 7 OS directly to the target device.

Boot your target device from this DVD. A fairly standard Windows 7 installation wizard will start.

There will be Templates to choose from or you can select “Do not use a template” and build your own image from operating system components. You can also modify a Template if you want to use it as a starting point. For a list of components go here:

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsembedded/en-us/develop/windows-embedded-standard-7-os-components.aspx

If you are installing to a USB bootable you need to add the “USB Bootable Stack” in the “Embedded Enabling Features” feature. I you don't the drive will not show up as a location that Windows can be installed on. You can go back at that point and select that feature if you forget.

During the install you can check for any hardware that did not get correct drivers installed natively. You can select those with the exclamation point then browse to the correct drivers on your hardware install CD. It may be necessary to connect a second USB DVD ROM to accomplish this.

I have had this option fail. Since this is essentially a Windows 7 install and is not locked down you can finish the install and then run the hardware driver install from the device driver CD.

This is done by enabling the Enhanced Write Filter (EWF).

Information here:

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms912906.aspx

There is a built-in application within the image at run-time, called EWF Manager Console application (EWFMGR.EXE), which provides a command-line interface for managing EWF. This application is only available if you select the EWF component during the image-creation process. After the First Boot Agent (FBA) has completed, you can enable or disable the EWF partition. The EWF partition changes will not take effect until you restart the device. For more details, see http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms912906.aspx

To enable the EWF partition:

EwfMgr.exe C: -enable

To disable the EWF partition:

EwfMgr.exe C: -disable

To commit data:

EwfMgr.exe C: -commit

Note: In RAM mode (the default) to disable EWF you must run the -disable option and then -commit to survive the reboot.

To build, manage, deploy and update WE7 images you will need the WE7 Standard 7 SP1 Toolkit. The evaluation copy can also be downloaded here:

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsembedded/en-us/downloads/download-windows-embedded-standard-7.aspx

You manage the image using the Image Configuration Editor (ICE). This will be in the Program Menu after the tookit install. You must first connect to a Distribution Share in the left pane. This is a special folder that must contain certain sub folders to be valid. This directory structure is created when the toolkit is installed but can be created anywhere (network drive etc.) The default created version on Win7 64 is at

c:\Program files (x86)\Windows Embedded Standard 7\DSSP1

The next pane is Answer File. Right click and choose New Answer File. The Ebedded Core packages are already included. You can build your image from there. Info:

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ff793868%28v=winembedded.60%29.aspx

After installing WE7 on your target device you can capture the image to be modified using the WE7 Standard 7 SP1 Toolkit.

This is capturing in it's simplest form. There are configuration files and line commands that can control the capture. Information can be found here:

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc749003%28v=ws.10%29.aspx

On the target device boot to the WE7 install DVD. On the bottom left choose “Launch WinPE Command Prompt”.

This will probably open the command prompt at X:\Sources.Determine the current drive letter that WE7 is installed on. For the purpose of this demonstration it will be D:\.

From X:\Sources\ run imagex.exe with this command

imagex /compress <type> /capture /boot d:\image_directory d:\imaging\data.wim “new_image_file”

In this example it creates a bootable image on the same drive that is being imaged as that is where there was room. You can then boot to the OS and copy off the image.

<type> can be maximum, fast, or none; d:\image_directory is the location of the files to image; d:\imaging\data.wim is the name and location of the new image file, and “new_image_file” (with straight quotation marks) is a description of the image file. Optionally, you can set the following additional flags: /boot, /check, /config, /scroll, and /verify. For more information about these flags, see

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc749447%28v=ws.10%29.aspx

Boot to the PE Command Line on the device with the drive you are going to apply the image to. You also need access to the .wim file via USB drive or some other medium to apply it from.

You need to prepare the device you are going to deploy the image to starting with DISKPART.

Type diskpart and you will get the DISKPART> prompt. Type “list disk” to show devices. Type “select disk=(N)” the (N) being the number corresponding with the disk you wish to apply the image to. This will shift the “focus” to the appropriate disk.

First run clean on the in focus disk to remove any formatting. The disk state after cleaning will be “uninitialized”.

DISKPART> clean

Next set the partion size in MB. I suggest leaving space for another small partition for EWF (Enhanced Write Filter).

DISKPART> create partition primary size=(size in MB)

Now set the partition as Active.

DISKPART>active

Assign the partition a drive letter.

First select the partition.

DISKPART> List partition Note the number assignment

DISKPART> select partition (partition number)

Format the volume (Not sure this is necessary)

DISKPART>list volume (note volume number)

DISKPART>format fs=ntfs label=“your choice” quick compress

Now you are ready to apply the image (.wim).

Type exit to return to DOS prompt.

imagex /apply (drive image is on):\(image file name.wim) (drive letter assigned):

There are some hoops to jump through in order to purchase and deploy WE7.

• Embedded OEM Customer License Agreement (OEM CLA)

• Onetime $995 purchase of the WE7 Standard 7 SP1 Toolkit

Information on accomplishing this feat can be found here:

http://msembedded.biz/en/licensing/oem-cla-agreement.html

WE7 comes in various flavors. The main flavors that would be appropriate are Pro, Enterprise and Compact or WE7P, E and C. A comparison chart can be found here:

http://www.elbacom.com/elbacom/embedded/products/wes/wes7/overview/versions

WE7P Full Featured $135.06 WE7E Less Features $109.13 WE7C Cut down model ~$97.00

These prices were from Avnet 9/4/12

2211 S. 47th St. Phoenix, Arizona United States 85034

(480) 643-2000 (800) 882-8282

Website: http://avnetmssolutions.com/