As I embark on my blogging journey, I hope to have fun sharing my experiences with NETCF - I currently work as a developer with the team.

I was recently trying to create a CE image with NETCF 3.5 built into the image, but realised that the instructions weren't too straight forward. For my first post, I thought I should give some tips on how to install NETCF 3.5 into a WinCE 6.0 image using platform builder. The default option allows you to use NETCF 2.0, so you need to go through a few steps to get there.

Prerequisites:

  1. Install VS 2005. http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=bb4a75ab-e2d4-4c96-b39d-37baf6b5b1dc&displaylang=en
  2. Install PB 6.0. This downloads a CE 6.0 OS image onto your machine. http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=BF0DC0E3-8575-4860-A8E3-290ADF242678&displaylang=en
  3. Install CE 6.0 R2 update from: http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=f41fc7c1-f0f4-4fd6-9366-b61e0ab59565&displaylang=en
  4. Although NETCF 3.5 was available starting Jan 2008 on CE 6.0, you might need to download the entire 2008 rollup: http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=b478949e-d020-465e-b451-73127b30b79f&DisplayLang=en as I was unable to find the monthly update for Jan 2008 currently on the download site.
  5. Now you should find NETCF 3.5 folder in your WinCE 6.0 image folder c:\wince600\others\dotnetcfv35

Creating an OS image:

  1. Using PB, create a new OS design. By default this allows you to pick only NETCFv2. Pick this up.
  2. After the project is created, open the View->Other Windows->Catalog Items Window. Here under --- Core OS -> CEBASE -> Applications and Services Development, find the NET Compact Framework 3.5 option. Uncheck NETCF 2.0 and check NETCF 3.5 option.
  3. Clean build your OS image.
  4. Double check in the final build image folder if you see the mscoree3_5.dll placed along with the NK.bin

You now have a CE 6.0 image with NETCF 3.5 on it :).

Note:

For WM you can install the NETCF 3.5 cab from: http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=E3821449-3C6B-42F1-9FD9-0041345B3385&displaylang=en