OLPC-specific Windows XP?

[nar002]

So very old subject I know but I remembered these existed and I've always been curious about it, considering apparently they were pretty far along development https://www.zdnet.com/article/microsoft ... 023001504/

Anyone have any information about these? I saw someone mention they got it on theirs in a comment but nothing else, and here's probably the best place to ask! Thanks for any info about it!

[Voyambar]

Well much like those pay-as-you-go editions of Windows XP these were only available in poorer countries such as South America and the like

[nar002]

Well much like those pay-as-you-go editions of Windows XP these were only available in poorer countries such as South America and the like

Yeah but I've never actually seen that version in the wild, that's why I was curious about it! If it was on a SD card it should've been leaked by now no?

[Visual917]

Were they using XP Starter?

[Winins]

Were they using XP Starter?

No they aren't. There was an exclusive version of WinXP Home Edition that is for ULCPCs(ultra low cost pc), maybe the OP is talking about that. It apparently came pre-installed on PCs and is super rare.

[Venetik]

Maybe Windows Fundamentals for Legacy PCs? Probably similar philosophy.

[nar002]

Just pinging again because I'm still curious about this, I still can't find anything and it's driving me crazy! I've seen some people talk about using windows so I'm confused since apparently the OLPC ran on an ARM CPU

Edit: So I found this searching, apparently it was very specific, still hope someone backed it up at least! If only so it's not lost to time http://lists.laptop.org/pipermail/devel ... 38622.html

[Hyoenmadan86]

Windows OLPCs ran in ultracheap x86 SoC boards (vortex x86 or similar) with OpenFirmware firmware. This OpenFirmware had BIOS emulation built in, so it could run standard x86 Windowses (It was made by the same company that made VEENER for CHRP NT PPCs, Firmworks). Probably the only special of these built-in windows OLPC images were the drivers, which were only included and used in these PCs, so you will not found them in the net.

[razvangabriel82]

I also found some videos with OLPC running Windows XP
Here is one:

[nar002]

Windows OLPCs ran in ultracheap x86 SoC boards (vortex x86 or similar) with OpenFirmware firmware. This OpenFirmware had BIOS emulation built in, so it could run standard x86 Windowses (It was made by the same company that made VEENER for CHRP NT PPCs, Firmworks). Probably the only special of these built-in windows OLPC images were the drivers, which were only included and used in these PCs, so you will not found them in the net.

Looking at the devs talking about it, WinXP booted from a special SD card so it wasn't a normal version of XP, that's what makes it interesting! That and it being specifically made for it too

[Hyoenmadan86]

Looking at the devs talking about it, WinXP booted from a special SD card so it wasn't a normal version of XP, that's what makes it interesting! That and it being specifically made for it too

Not that special. Bootable from SDCard was done using components from Windows XP Embedded. Still the same x86 build everyone knows.
OEMs can do highly customized system images for the devices they will ship to consumer, and license independent components from Windows XP Embedded if they need to. But all these come from standard builds everyone here knows. For example, check older Compaq QuickRestore stuff.

[nar002]

Looking at the devs talking about it, WinXP booted from a special SD card so it wasn't a normal version of XP, that's what makes it interesting! That and it being specifically made for it too

Not that special. Bootable from SDCard was done using components from Windows XP Embedded. Still the same x86 build everyone knows.
OEMs can do highly customized system images for the devices they will ship to consumer, and license independent components from Windows XP Embedded if they need to. But all these come from standard builds everyone here knows. For example, check older Compaq QuickRestore stuff.

I didn't know windows embedded could boot, but would it also be able to boot on an OLPC? From what the devs said ti was a highly customised version of XP that was even tailored to a very specific SD-card for some reason that's why I find it interesting

[Hyoenmadan86]

I didn't know windows embedded could boot, but would it also be able to boot on an OLPC? From what the devs said ti was a highly customised version of XP that was even tailored to a very specific SD-card for some reason that's why I find it interesting

Just exaggerations of the time. And yes, seeing the specifications of the OLPC, Windows embedded should do its work in the OLPC. If you have one, you would like to try with it.

[palmakia]

Looking at the devs talking about it, WinXP booted from a special SD card so it wasn't a normal version of XP, that's what makes it interesting! That and it being specifically made for it too

Not that special. Bootable from SDCard was done using components from Windows XP Embedded. Still the same x86 build everyone knows.
OEMs can do highly customized system images for the devices they will ship to consumer, and license independent components from Windows XP Embedded if they need to. But all these come from standard builds everyone here knows. For example, check older Compaq QuickRestore stuff.autoclicker.onl

I didn't know windows embedded could boot, but would it also be able to boot on an OLPC? From what the devs said ti was a highly customised version of XP that was even tailored to a very specific SD-card for some reason that's why I find it interesting

his OpenFirmware had BIOS emulation built in, so it could run standard x86 Windowses

[nar002]

Right but the OLPC wasn't x86 was it? So how could it run WinXP?

[Hyoenmadan86]

Right but the OLPC wasn't x86 was it? So how could it run WinXP?

It is. Is driven by an AMD Geode x86 SoC. It just had a different firmware (Firmworks OpenFirmware instead BIOS). You can check its specifications in its support page.