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how to reboot from a WM user interface?

Hello the community
I would like to know how to perform a soft reset (reboot) from a WM user interface. Of course there is a lot of external programs and utilities providing such the functionality also, but I guess there should be a mechanism built in WM.
I am sure there should be a DLL responsible for that, so probably there is also a way to execute this DLL?! Something like Windows’ rundll.exe?
My device is HTC p3600/Trinity with WM5, but I think it doesn’t make sense.
Your advice would be much appreciated,
Br, Alexey

dll mean dynamic linked libary
which pretty much mean it's a lib full of functions that
other apps call you cant normaly just call it's functions from
the GUI

yes, I know what DLL actually mean
And that’s why I made a guess about a possible way to run DLL similar to rundll.exe
I would prefer using something like reboot.exe, but if such a program isn’t provided along with standard WM, I don’t mind using workarounds like running DLL, if possible.
Anyway, my question was not about real nature of DLL but the way how to perform a reboot using standard functions of WM.

Check out the SDK documentation, MS might have made a direct api to achieve this through a direct rundll type action, but the easiest way is just to code a tiny app and launch it, eg
http://www.pocketpcdn.com/qa/softreset.html
VJEschaton will reset in a variety of fashions.
V

Thanks
Is there a way to compile such a tiny application without installing any huge C++ IDE? Something like command line compiler downloadable thru a simple ZIP file?

shkaff said:
Thanks
Is there a way to compile such a tiny application without installing any huge C++ IDE? Something like command line compiler downloadable thru a simple ZIP file?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The C# compiler is free and can produce WM executables. The only problem is that you must instruct it to use the .NET Compact Framework libraries instead of the normal ones. I readied a guide when the last OS was WM2003. I don't know if it is still working, but actually I have no reason to think it won't. Just choose the right subset of files.
Here is the link:
http://www.jargoncode.it/tips/netcfcompile-eng.htm
If you want a C++ compiler... I don't know.

Advice on a new hobbyist phone?

Hello XDA-dev community
For the past couple of months i've been thinking about getting a Pocket PC for a new phone instead of a Symbian Nokia [ah my old 6630, may she rest in pieces...]. Anywho, I think i've decided on the HTC Touch Pro / Raphael. At ~AU$600 it's the highest I was trying not to pay (i'm not rich), however it seems to be a pretty powerful and full featured device.
I do have a few questions I hope some of the kind experts/veterans here might be able to answer for me though
1) I written a few things in Java and PHP and other even-more-basic languages, but am interested in learning a new language with hopes to create software for both Windows PC and Windows Mobile. What choices do we as end-users have here? .NET is an obvious one [I own a copy of Visual Studio 2008 Pro], but are there any other languages of note?
2) From the Raphael specs on the Wiki here, it lists it as an ARMv6 architecture-based processor. This comes from the ARM11 family, which is the successor (I think) to the XScale family (ARMv5TE). Are these ARMv6 processors backwards compatible with 'XScale accelerated' binary builds of software? I.E., a PPC application has two versions for download/purchase - a 'Generic ARM Release' and an 'XScale optimized release' - would the Raphael ARMv6-based device be compatible with these XScale-optimized binaries? Or do ARM do things differently and ARMv6 is not backwards compatible?
3) Has anybody ever heard any rumors or made any talks about porting Android to the Raphael? Just curious. I'd prefer a Windows Mobile device (not a Linux user) but I can see all this OpenSource stuff does have a future... EDIT: Nevermind, I found the page at http://wiki.xda-developers.com/index.php?pagename=RaphaelLinux
4) How does the device perform with 3D-heavy applications? Does it make use of any sort of acceleration (I assume no, not like the iPhone for example).
OK thats all... thanks a lot for your replies, if there's anything else you think is worth mentioning to a soon-to-be-first-time owner of a Windows Mobile device, please do say so Cheers.

In reply to 2) VS 2005 Pro onwards targets code at ARMv4I, basically generic ARM processors also capable of running the Thumb (16 bit) instruction set. Thumb represents a limited set of ARM 32 bit instructions coded as 16 bit instructions. It allows much smaller code sections, but with megabytes of memory available these days who cares? If you code in .NET none of this matters anyway, as the code is created as IL byte code, the .NET runtime sorts it out.
If you code in Embedded Visual C++ 3 or 4 the target chipset is ARMv4. When you use the IDE to create the code on a WinMo 5/6 machine it complains that the target machine cannot run the code. It's lying, what it really means is it does not recognize the processor class. As it is ARM 32bit code only it will work.
It is not worth targetting the code for a specific, (read non generic), ARM chipset. You are just making a rod for your own back when it won't work on something else.

Thanks for the reply stephj. There will indeed be a bit of research for me to do as to which language and/or IDE I decide to choose to train myself in then it seems. Specifically though...
stephj said:
It is not worth targetting the code for a specific, (read non generic), ARM chipset. You are just making a rod for your own back when it won't work on something else.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
...what I was referring to is - I've seen some freeware PPC software, mainly emulators, that have two versions - a 'generic ARM' one and an 'XScale Compatible' alternative version. On the ARMv6 based phones, assuming the software was released back when XScale was the newest ARM family, would both work on the Raphael? If so, which would be faster?
Obviously though, for a developer, creating the most compatible/generic code to work on the widest range of devices is the main focus - later possibly implementing optimiziations or hacks that are specific to a certain platform - but I'm just wondering if these already built, older 'specifically optimized' builds are compatible with the succeeded chipsets.
P.S. Do you know where I could find some resources on choosing between Visual C++ or .NET? I.e. pros and cons of each?
Thanks a lot!

jonusc said:
Hello XDA-dev community
...
1) I written a few things in Java and PHP and other even-more-basic languages, but am interested in learning a new language with hopes to create software for both Windows PC and Windows Mobile. What choices do we as end-users have here? .NET is an obvious one [I own a copy of Visual Studio 2008 Pro], but are there any other languages of note?
...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Since you have VS2008Pro, C++/win32 if you want fast and lightweight applications

"P.S. Do you know where I could find some resources on choosing between Visual C++ or .NET? I.e. pros and cons of each?"
.net pros
easy to get something running fast even if one is a n00b
got a lot of components meaning less time to develop
can be programmed with c# and c++ and even eeeeewww basic
.net con
slow as in sloooooowww
require one to install the framework if the app
require a newer version then what ones phone came with and the framework is pretty big
and people don't seem to have success with installing it on sd cards
compact framework is also limited in features vs. .net on pc so apps don't just port always
limited in features unless one do unmanaged code
c++ pro
fast
require no extre stuff
small in size and again fast
have access to every feature in the phone
c++ con
one have to do everything and that mean msg loop
and a lot of leg work just to get a dialog with a button
steaper learning curve
more risks of mem leaking
harder to debug as stacktrace is not just there
like on .net

Very nice, thanks for the replies guys
So from what I can gather, a basic .NET application would be ideal for RAD (quick and dirty), particularly GUI-centric applications, but tend to be bulky; whereas C(++) is a more native / low-level language and is thus faster, but very hardcore as most functions need to be done from scratch.
I should have assumed it's pretty much the same as a Windows PC
What about C++ versus C#? And does VS2008 have a decent API/IDE set for mobile development i.e. does it have many libraries for C(++/#) already included or are more easily available?
Thanks again for the answers guys... it's obvious i'm keen to learn about it, but i'm a little worried that someone like me going from stuff like PHP and VB to C might be biting off more than I could chew....? Ah well if .NET is gonna cause problems down the line, then I guess I have no choice

Don't bother with the C++ version of .NET, the casts that you have to make, to get it to work makes the code very hard to read, and besides it only compiles to the IL level anyway, it's just not worth the effort.
So, under .NET use C#, or VB if you prefer, there is not much difference between them, but in my opinion, C# is a bit more elegant.
Under C++ you have the choices of WIN32, ATL (Active Template Library), or MFC (Microsoft Foundation Classes), programming models.
WIN32 is the simplist but the hardest to code, the other two add progressively more objects to make things easier, but you need to distribute the run time libraries with them. A simple WIN32 app can be distributed as a single .EXE if the DLLs it already uses are part of the CE/PPC operating system.
PS When it comes to running code compiled for a specific ARM class on your device, just give it a go. If the CPU hits an instruction it can't run, it will throw an exception and stop anyway.

stephj said:
Don't bother with the C++ version of .NET, the casts that you have to make, to get it to work makes the code very hard to read, and besides it only compiles to the IL level anyway, it's just not worth the effort.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Fair enough. So C++ in VS2008 is a bad idea
stephj said:
So, under .NET use C#, or VB if you prefer, there is not much difference between them, but in my opinion, C# is a bit more elegant.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I thought VB was dead? Wasn't VB6 the last one they made? Or is VB just what they call generic/common .NET Framework apps? Anyway, yeah i've read good things about C#, especially compared to .NET in general. EDIT: Oh, .NET is not the program language but VB is *facepalm* I get it, nevermind
stephj said:
Under C++ you have the choices of WIN32, ATL (Active Template Library), or MFC (Microsoft Foundation Classes), programming models.
WIN32 is the simplist but the hardest to code, the other two add progressively more objects to make things easier, but you need to distribute the run time libraries with them. A simple WIN32 app can be distributed as a single .EXE if the DLLs it already uses are part of the CE/PPC operating system.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ah, same as a Windows PC. That makes sense.
Thanks for the answers I think I might take a look at C sharp.

C++ in VS2008 is fine, use the smart device WIN32 ,ATL, or MFC models take your pick.
Sorry my mistake, the C++ .NET version is not available for smart devices. Its the three models above only.

After additional research, I don't really want to be tied down with the proprietary C# system. So is VS2008 a decent IDE for WIN32 C++ development on Windows Mobile? Or are there better alternatives?

VS 2005/2008 Pro takes some beating. After you have installed about 3 CD's worth of MSDN libraries all the help is on tap. The IDE also looks at MSDN online if you have an internet connection to see if there are any forums on the same topic you are inquiring about.
The code is generated as ARMv4I and can be tested/debugged on the images provided by the WinMo 5 or 6 SDK. The emulators are that good you only put it on your phone when you have tested it to death on the emulator.
EVC 3 and 4 use a previous method where the emulators run a x86 version of the code. I still use EVC 4 for code that has to run on anything, Windows Mobile 2003 for example.
It's all pretty proprietory, when it comes down to it, but I guess we're stuck with it.

rom-development with the original ms-tools ?

through msdn(aa) many students and people have all the original ms-development tools, but nowhere i can find the development-packages.
sure, most of the people do it through romkitchens, but does anybody know if there is any resource, how to work with the original tools ?

The ROM "development" you do with a "kitchen" isn't the same sort of development you do with Visual Studio. You're not writing and compiling code, you're assembling (already compiled) bits into a package. Sort of like taking .DLL/.EXE/.SYS files and making "Windows" out of it. In general (or maybe always, I dunno), a "kitchen" is made from a base ROM (or files extracted from one) and tools and packages that are added to the base ROM.
As far as I know, noone but MS has the tools used to build ROMs (if MS even builds them... I bet they don't, not as they arrive on our phones, anyway.

the "org" ms platformbuilder is not availbe to end users only to ms pda making partners

godefroi said:
The ROM "development" you do with a "kitchen" isn't the same sort of development you do with Visual Studio. You're not writing and compiling code, you're assembling (already compiled) bits into a package. Sort of like taking .DLL/.EXE/.SYS files and making "Windows" out of it. In general (or maybe always, I dunno), a "kitchen" is made from a base ROM (or files extracted from one) and tools and packages that are added to the base ROM.
As far as I know, noone but MS has the tools used to build ROMs (if MS even builds them... I bet they don't, not as they arrive on our phones, anyway.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
you can do this with the msdnaa-packages, believe me..
maybe it is not really for the enduser, but as a "power-user" most of them know how to "get" the software - but it shines noone does.
last year i worked extended with windows embedded - the project run on ice because they wanted to use ce.net and i worked on another project.. but without the platform-package (in form of bootloader-code, drivers etc) you cant do anything - and it shines, nothing leaked or just the "real good informed scene" has that.
on windows embedded you have a tool eg. to get the important facts out of a running system to build your own image. on ce it wont be that easy, but even if, i cant find any information about that.

[Q] Wanting to start creating homebrew applications.

Ok, so I have no experience of working with any type of coding of development except for Adobe Flash. I don't think that really counts though, nor help me here, but I want to start off by saying that I'm simply a 17 year old.
I want to start development of an app to edit the registry. For example, I got the idea for everytime you click a button on the app, it edits something on the registry. Of course, phones will have to be Interop-Unlocked (Which my Samsung Focus is).
So to get on topic, how may I start creating an app for Windows Phone to edit registry and etc.? As I said before, I really don't have much experience, but I would love to learn and help the community.
Thanks in advance.

Bump up....

Ok, basic first steps: do you have the WP7 SDK? You can get it for free, and you'll need it. It includes the tools to build and deploy apps (compilers and so forth).
The project you're talking about is a bit heavy for a first foray into app development, but you can give it a shot. One of the easier ways (for me, at least) to learn things is to look at what other people did, which in coding usually means looking at open source projects. There are a few open-source apps which access the registry.
For example, my MultiTaskToggle app (linked in my sig) works on Samsung and provides an example of how to read and write a specific registry value.
If you want to browse the registry at all, you'll need something different. This can be done, using COM to call native APIs. Look at the Homebrew library (used by the Webserver projects, among others) or WP7 Advanced Explorer (open source, code is on Codeplex). These types of project have two parts: managed (.NET code, typically in C#) that calls the COM interface, and native (C/C++, written using the Windows Mobile SDK) that implements the COM object.
You may want to do some research online to get started, either here on XDA-Devs (though I think most tutorials here assume at least basic knowledge) or elsewhere (even from MS directly) if you're really starting from scratch.

[Q] Mathstudio (Space Time) for Windows Phone 7

Hi everybody, I am an engineer and I think that windows phone is perfect for my needs..so fast and efficient, office integrated, easy to use and many other qualities..the only thing that I can't find for this OS is Mathstudio.
For those who don't know what's this, it's like having a graphic calculator always in your poket. This program doesn't make everything, of course, but many of the most common things can be done with mathstudio.
I was wondering if somebody could port this program from android/iOS to windows phone 7. Otherwise I must always go around with my mobile and with an ipod touch only for this program. I remember that the previous version of mathstudio (called spacetime) exsists for windows mobile 6.5, an other way could be a porting from windows mobile. I wrote to the official developer but he said he won't realse a windows phone 7 version of his program.
Thank you for listening

Porting WinMo apps is technically possible (though hard unless they were written initially in .NET). Making an unmodified WinMo app run on WP7 is very hard and usually requires a custom ROM to run it (the stock ROMs have very restrictive permissions policies that most WinMo apps can't work with). Porting iOS or Android apps pretty much requires re-writing them, which is an expense that some app authors don't find worth doing.
There are a number of graphing calculator apps available for WP7, and the built-in calculator works pretty well for non-graphing functions, but I can understand wanting access to a specific tool. Unfortunately, since I've never used the app you describe, I can't tell you how well any of the WP7 alternatives compare.

I've got an HD7 and I've made on my own an Y-cable to downgrade it, so now I use the DFT's Deepshining ROM..I didn't know it was even possible to run some old WM6 apps on WP7, such a grat news I'll try to find out more about it Can you give me a list of alternative graphic calculators for windws phone 7? I wasn't able to find anywhere Thank's a lot!!!

I just did a search on the Marketplace for "graphing calculator" and got a number of hits.
If you look at the Opera apps for WP7 custom ROMs, those are actually wrappers around the WinMo Opera apps - the wrappers just put the files in the right places and then launch EXEs.

Thank you so much for the help , I had a look on the marketplace and I found different graphic calculators (Graphing calculator, PoketPi, Eval Graph, Grapher Calculator), but none of them can replace mathstudio for the following reasons: they are only in 2D, they don't support the CAS (computer algebra system, the same present in Matlab), you can't write and save scripts or even one algorythm. I will find out more about wrapping for the moment, but I hope it will come a better solution

Unfortunately, MathStudio will never ported on WP7 platform (according to this: http://www.mathstudio.net/forums/discussion/164/platform-requests , check the last post)
The only hope is upcoming Apollo. WinRT (Win8 API) will have C++ compiler and (probably) will support native code, so MathStudio developers can (also - possible, it's not too easy) port their app to Win8.