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        Microsoft patches Windows CE, NavReady

        Jonathan Angel | Date: Aug 14, 2008 | Comments: 1


        Microsoft has released a collection of updates and fixes for its Windows CE 5.0, 6.0, and NavReady operating systems. The "July 2008" updates include enhancements to memory handling and file system performance, improved Bluetooth, and a Service Pack 1 (SP1) version of the SQL Compact 3.5 database software, says Microsoft.



        The CE 5.0, 6.0, and NavReady updates are not available directly to end users. Instead, they're for developers creating Windows CE images using Microsoft's Platform Builder tool, part of Visual Studio 2005 and Visual Studio 2008.

        The updates for Windows CE 5.0 and 6.0 are supplied as .MSI installer files, with separate versions for ARM, MIPS, SH4, and x86 processors. For the recently released, Windows CE-based, Windows Embedded NavReady, there's only a single .MSI file, since this Windows CE variant supports only ARM CPUs.

        Microsoft describes its updates as follows (the numbered links, where available, refer to entries in the company's Knowledge Base):
        • Windows CE 5.0 July 2008 updates:
          • Fixes a problem that occurred with DHCP when a device has more than one network adapter (KB954904)
          • Fixes problems with mounting certain SD cards, and with corruption of the transaction-safe FAT (TFAT) file system when power is turned off while writing (KB954089)
          • Fixes a problem with the flash adaptive layer (FAL), wherein it sometimes incorrectly reported that a flash device was full even though some free sectors are still available (KB955221)
          • Provides SQL Compact 3.5 SP1 functionality as a "catalog item" in Platform Builder, for potential addition to devices

        • Windows CE 6.0 July 2008 updates:
          • Fixes a rounding operation in the software clock that sometimes caused system time to randomly jump forward by several seconds (KB955159)
          • Adds a "check for NULL pointer to resolve some issues"
          • Allows limiting resource calls on kernel threads in a PSL (program static library) context
          • Fixes a DEBUGCHK in DEBUG KERNEL that could cause a device to halt during booting if a USB hard disk was attached
          • Addresses a memory leak in the Windows CE 6.0 shell
          • Provides SQL Compact 3.5 SP1 functionality as a "catalog item" in Platform Builder, for potential addition to devices

        • Windows Embedded Navready July 2008 update:
          • Allows Connection Manager to establish and manage Bluetooth DUN (Dial-up Networking) sessions even when a Bluetooth HFP (hands-free protocol) is not active on a device
        The .MSI updaters will install all updates directly into the build environment previously specified in a user's original Platform Builder installation, Microsoft says. Approximately 75MB of disk space is required per processor to be supported, the company adds.

        Further information

        To access the Windows CE 5.0, CE 6.0, and NavReady July 2008 updates, and view a list of other available Windows CE-related downloads, visit the Microsoft website, here.


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