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Windows CE.NET Ported to Xbox

Posted by timothy on from the oh-why-not dept.

Cutriss writes "Caught this over at Xbox Scene - Windows CE.NET 4.2 has been ported to the Xbox. Artifex, one of the developers of this project, says the following about the status of development: 'The basic kernel subsystem is in place. The IoCtl is about 90% done. ISR/IST is up and working. PCI enumeration happens properly. USB initializes and enumerates devices (but hangs if there's a gamepad connected). Mouse driver loads. Keyboard driver loads but is missing a layout, so it's not quite functional yet. A VERY simple video driver is in place (Software mouse cursor seems to be failing, so you won't see a pointer, yet).' It's a 100% legal distribution, but you'll still need a modded/exploited Xbox in order to run it. Screenshots hosted by Xbox Scene can be found here(1) and here(2)."

9 of 276 comments (clear)

  1. So, uh by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    is microsoft cool now?

    1. Re:So, uh by maelstrom · · Score: 5, Funny

      No.

      --
      The more you know, the less you understand.
  2. Sounds like it's done! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    Keyboard driver loads but is missing a layout, so it's not quite functional yet. A VERY simple video driver is in place (Software mouse cursor seems to be failing, so you won't see a pointer, yet).

    So it runs just like winME then.

  3. Wow, I would've never thought it possible by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    Windows running on Microsoft hardware. What next, MacOS running on something made by Apple?

    1. Re:Wow, I would've never thought it possible by Doomrat · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Don't be facetious. These guys didn't just stick an installation CD in an X-Box and expect credit for it. They hacked away at a platform which wasn't built for running this sort of thing and succeeded in making a generally useful release, all in their spare time. They don't owe you anything, so until you can come up with something genuinely funny, lay off.

  4. Why? by Nasarius · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Kudos to the guys who did this, I'm sure it took a lot of work...but do we really need Windows CE on the X-Box? IIRC, Windows 2000 already works, and so does Linux. Is there any specific advantage to CE, aside from its smaller size?

    --
    LOAD "SIG",8,1
    1. Re:Why? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Informative

      Actually... Windows 2000 only runs under a port of bochs, or under vmware in linux.

      This is the first time a windows kernel can be run NATIVE on the box.

      Why?
      Because it was fun.

      --Artifex

    2. Re:Why? by MADCOWbeserk · · Score: 5, Funny

      a specialized, crippled version of the Windows 2000 kernel.

      Sounds like a description of Windows XP

  5. Re:But why? by Obyron · · Score: 5, Insightful

    I'm not saying that their work is in vain, i just don't see the point. If you care to explain it would be much appreciated, instead of calling me an asshole just because I disagree.

    A major part of the hacker spirit is not doing something because it's strictly necessary, but doing it because you learn from the experience and ENJOY doing it. For example, I play the guitar. Is it really necessary for me to sit and play when no one else is around? No one will hear it but me. No one is around to enjoy it. It isn't making me any money. I do it because the practice makes me better at it, and because I genuinely enjoy the experience.

    If this guy wants to spend his time porting WinCE to the X-Box (a non-trivial) task, then that's his perogative. "The point," as you put it, is that he enjoys doing it. I doubt even 1000 people will ever utilize what he's doing here, but a lesson he learns or a novel hack he comes up with during the process might come in handy to him later when he IS writing something that thousands of people might use.

    And if not? At least he enjoyed himself.

    --
    --Obyron