Windows CE - Kiosk Mode

I received an e-mail over the weekend asking how to create a Windows CE 5.0 image that boots directly into a "kiosk" type application, Windows CE 5.0 ships with a number of O/S templates which include Gateway (headless), Internet Appliance (Windows Shell), Windows Thin Client (RDP Client Shell), but nothing that can be easily modified to allow for kiosk mode.

I decided to modify the existing Windows Thin Client (WBT/RDP) O/S template file (which, on my development PC is here - C:\WINCE500\PUBLIC\COMMON\OAK\CATALOG\NEWPLATFORMWIZARDS) - Windows_Thin_Client.xml

My plan is to remove the RDP Shell from the XML file, and have the developer add their own application and launch registry keys - step 1 is completed, I now boot to a black shell (no shell applicaiton running) - from the CE Shell Prompt in Platform Builder I can "gi proc" and see that all the expected processes are up and running - next step is to add a simple UI application, add the launch registry keys, and then we're all set - look out for instructions and a sample XML file in the next couple of days.

- Mike

Comments

• Anonymous
  August 02, 2005
  Very Well Mike, if you have time, you could also do a MSDN Article... I Tried to do this with my Windows Challenge Application, but as we were out of time, i didn´t remove the RDP Shell (I could not figure how to do this in a fast way (I tried to remove RDP,but it was required by PB)) Cool enough, i just swapped some registry keys to open my app on full screen. Quick and Dirty :D
  
• Anonymous
  August 02, 2005
  yep, I'm in the process of writing the quick and dirty steps on the blog and will follow up with a full blown MSDN article that documents the steps.
  
  - Mike