Microsoft KB Archive/287145

= INFO: Limitations on Writing Device Drivers for Targeted Platforms Using Platform Builder =

PSS ID Number: 287145

Article Last Modified on 7/22/2003

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The information in this article applies to:


 * Microsoft Windows CE 3.0 Professional Edition for the Handheld PC
 * Microsoft Windows CE 3.0 for the Handheld PC
 * Microsoft Windows CE 2.12 for the Handheld PC
 * Microsoft Windows CE 2.11 for the Handheld PC
 * Microsoft Windows CE Operating System, Versions 2.12
 * Microsoft Windows CE Operating System, Versions 2.11
 * Microsoft Windows CE Platform Builder 2.11
 * Microsoft Windows CE Platform Builder 2.12
 * Microsoft Windows CE Platform Builder 3.0
 * Microsoft Windows CE Operating System, Versions 3.0
 * Microsoft Windows CE for the Pocket PC

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This article was previously published under Q287145



SUMMARY
There are special considerations that apply to the use of Platform Builder to develop device drivers for targeted platforms (such as Handheld PC, Pocket PC, and so forth).



MORE INFORMATION
The following considerations apply to the writing of device drivers with Platform Builder for targeted devices:  Because the platform-specific information (platform-dependent driver [PDD] components) for targeted devices is not included with Platform Builder, Platform Builder cannot build the following types of native drivers:

 USB host controller PCMCIA host controller Display Wave Serial/parallel port Touch pad</li> Keyboard or mouse</li> Notification LED</li></ul>

These types of drivers are typically developed by the OEM.</li> The following types of installable or client drivers can be written for targeted devices with Platform Builder because they generally do not depend on platform-specific components:

<ul> USB client</li> PCMCIA client</li> Audio Compression Manager (ACM)</li> NDIS miniport (only PCMCIA-based ones for any media Ethernet, token-ring, and so forth)</li> Printer</li> Application-specific serial (for example, Global Positioning System [GPS])</li></ul>

Independent hardware vendors typically write client drivers only, not native drivers.</li> Debugging device drivers with Platform Builder generally involves the use of the debug serial port, which is not enabled on target devices. Unless the EOM provides a mechanism to switch the serial port mode from product serial to debug serial, debugging is limited to user mode application type debugging.</li></ul>

Additional query words: device driver debugging targeted platform native installable stream builder

Keywords: kbinfo KB287145

Technology: kbAudDeveloper kbOSWinCE kbPocketSearch kbSDKSearch kbWinCE211 kbWinCE211HPC kbWinCE212 kbWinCE212HPC kbWinCE300 kbWinCE300HPC kbWinCEPocketPC kbWinCEPro300HPC kbWinCESDK211 kbWinCESDK212 kbWinCESDK300 kbWinCESDKSearch kbWinCESearch

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