Booting Windows CE from Linear Flash Memory

An OEM can use linear flash memory to store a Windows CE operating system image, making it possible to boot Windows CE directly from a linear flash memory device, instead of from ROM. Booting the operating system image from linear flash memory mandates that the platform also support XIP because Windows CE itself runs in XIP mode. In turn, this means that booting is possible only on built-in linear flash memory that is mapped directly into the system’s main address space.

One method for implementing booting involves writing a separate boot-loader application that copies the image to the built-in linear flash memory device, and then executes that image. This method does not involve the use of the TrueFFS driver because the device is accessed directly from the bootloader application. OEMs are free to implement their own booting solutions on linear flash memory devices. OEMs who want to implement booting from DiskOnChip through the use of the existing TrueFFS driver can contact M-Systems, Inc., for assistance.