Visual Studio 2012 Compiling Native for ARM

[ben1066]

Microsoft seem to have done a pretty bad job at stopping you being able to compile desktop applications for Windows RT. As far as I can tell if you add a file called Windows.desktop.arm to C:\Program Files (x86)\Windows Kits\8.0\DesignTime\CommonConfiguration\Neutral containing the following then it allows compilation of desktop applications for ARM. I've tested this and got an exe out, and putting it into IDA indicates it is a valid exe.

Code: Select all

<Project xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/developer/msbuild/2003">
  <PropertyGroup>
    <WindowsSDKDesktopARMSupport>true</WindowsSDKDesktopARMSupport>
  </PropertyGroup>
</Project>

[The Distractor]

I compiled a hello world exe for ARM by simply commenting out a few lines in one of the C header files (forgot which one).

[Ramireztime]

Ok so basically what your saying is that you can get a program, like Virtual Router or Notepad++, and make it work on Windows RT?

[Pwned]

Ok so basically what your saying is that you can get a program, like Virtual Router or Notepad++, and make it work on Windows RT?

Maybe, if it doesn't have ASM parts in the source code, and is Visual Studio-ready.

[ben1066]

I compiled a hello world exe for ARM by simply commenting out a few lines in one of the C header files (forgot which one).

And at a guess you commented an MSBuild file too. That does work but this appears to be the cleanest way and the one that Microsoft likely uses, or something similar.

[yksoft1]

I thought they did not ship ARM C/C++ runtime and Win32 libraries with the released Windows 8 SDK and Visual Studio 2012....
Anyone give me a tree list of Visual Studio 2012's lib directory (both the compiler and SDK) please?

[ben1066]

They do. At least there is user32.lib and kernel32.lib for example, it appears to have fewer libs in total, but I suspect that's driver related stuff and also legacy.

[prayaas1998]

Seems interesting..

[BogdanV]

You might be able to compile it for ARM but will you be able to launch the program from WinRT ? Surely they've placed some kind of protection, like requiring all Win32 apps to be signed with their own private key or something.

[ben1066]

I doubt it, that would surely cause issues in relation to anti-competition laws.

[BogdanV]

Uhm, Microsoft clearly states that win32 development for WinRT is not an option, so none other than them will build win32 stuff anyway. Unless they allow OEMs to bundle Desktop-mode crap, but I doubt it.

[Pwned]

...allow OEMs to bundle Desktop-mode crap, but I doubt it.

http://www.gev.com/2012/08/samsung-s-la ... windows-8/

[rafaelgs]

...allow OEMs to bundle Desktop-mode crap, but I doubt it.

http://www.gev.com/2012/08/samsung-s-la ... windows-8/

Probably, Samsung will include this only in PC. But, not in Windows RT.

[BogdanV]

...allow OEMs to bundle Desktop-mode crap, but I doubt it.

http://www.gev.com/2012/08/samsung-s-la ... windows-8/

Probably, Samsung will include this only in PC. But, not in Windows RT.

Source also said that its a "gadget" by which I assume its just a floating, custom IE frame like the sidebar gadgets in Vista and 7 ergo its not a win32 app.

[reker]

confirmed
when i run a native exe on windows rt, it told me
'windows cannot verify the digital signature of this application'

[ben1066]

Try running the following commands in command prompt as administrator:
bcdedit -set loadoptions DISABLE_INTEGRITY_CHECKS
bcdedit -set TESTSIGNING ON

These disable driver signature enforcement, it may also disable it for applications. It may need to be signed with a testing cert.

[z180]

In Windows Mobile 6.5 you could patch it easily and it was possible to use other compilers.