Can .Net Compact Framework 2.0 be installed on a Windows Embeded Handheld 6.5 Classic terminal?

Question

I have a customer with files that are to be installed on a Unitech PA986-II terminal (CPU Marvel PXA320), but some of the packages will not install because .Net 2.0 is not present. So far I have been unable to find a version that will install.

The about information says that it is running CE OS 5.2.23152 Build 23152.5.3.12. The cgccutil reports that .NET Compact Framework 3.5.9198.0 is installed.

I've tried NETCFv2.wce5.armv4i.cab but that fails after the installation starts, but before it asks for a location.

Answer 1

Side-by-side installation is supported, but largely unnecessary because the CF 3.5 runtimes are capable of running CF 2.0 assemblies. In over 90% over of the cases I've seen, the 2.0 stuff just works with no intervention.

Since you're asking, I'm going to assume you fall into the other 10% and your application isn't running. In those cases you can either explicitly tell the app to run under 3.5 by putting this in the app.config file:

<configuration>
  <startup>
    <supportedRuntime version="v3.5.9198"/>
  </startup>
</configuration>

Or you can force the 3.5 runtimes to use 2.0 compatibility mode by putting this into your app config:

<configuration>
  <runtime>
    <compatibilityversion major="2" minor="0"/>
  </runtime>
  <startup>
    <supportedRuntime version="v3.5.9198"/>
  </startup>
</configuration>

More info on configuring the runtime is available on MSDN.

Answer 2

I used the NETCFv2.wm.armv4i.cab from the Compact Framework 2.0 SP2 SDK. Even though this is not a Windows Mobile machine it installed. I edited the original file, NETCFv2.wce5.armv4i.cab, using Win CE Cab Manager removing the PocketPC restriction. That had prevented it from running before. It failed during installation.

After installing the Mobile version the SQL Client 2.0 installed without error.

For what it's worth - both cab files are set to CE 6.999 as the upper bounds it could install to.

Answer 3

If you deploy your application using visual studio 2008, it automatically installs SQL mobile and compact framework, at least on windows embedded ce 6.0.

Answer 4

I found that in VS 2008 you can create a smart device CAB project and it will include everything you need for your application, so that customers can install the app without having VS.