xp embedded right for me?

[hyeena]

hello,
I am building rugged, turn-key laptop
for professional audio recording purpose.

For years I have been tweaking 98, 2000 and XP
to match my needs for audio use only.

Now I thought to design barebone XP with
only needed services and components but there
is couple questions I need to ask.

Is there ready made tutorials of XP embedded with
all needed media extensions for basic DirectX etc. components
that are up to date.

What is most effective and smallest footprint GUI Shell available?
Probably some mediacenter like menu shell would be right since there
is only couple of programs I need to be visible.

Since most HELP files are nowadays HTML the basic version of IEXPLORE
or similar is needed so can it be used as a shell or is it more effective to
use something else as shell? I probably have to include CMD or similar as
well but not as a default shell.

After making minimal but working image of Embedded XP it would be nice that
user could upgrade and install new programs as needed.

all opinions and links to design media oriented embedded XP are welcome

thanks in advance,
Jukka

 

[Slobodan Brcin \(eMVP\)]

Hi Jukka,

Download XP Embedded tools with SP2. In TD you have already some predefined macro templates that could get you up and running very
quickly.
If you realy need tutorials look at MS site and get Sean Limings book.
Also you can use http://groups-beta.google.com/group/microsoft.public.windowsxp.embedded to search this NG for your questions since
they are probably already answered.

What is most effective and smallest footprint GUI Shell available?
Probably some mediacenter like menu shell would be right since there
is only couple of programs I need to be visible.

You can make small custom launch aplication that will be executed as custom shell.

After making minimal but working image of Embedded XP it would be nice that
user could upgrade and install new programs as needed.

Search for DUA (Device Update Agent).

Regards,
Slobodan