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Re: WIN CE - Help and information required

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On Thu, 19 May 2011 17:11:59 +0100, "nosey"
<thisisnotreal@outerspace.com> wrote:

>I'm searching for some help and advice on behalf of a friend of mine...
>
>
>
>He has a small 'notebook' type laptop which we believe had Win CE loaded on
>it (not sure what version)

If you give us info about the device (manufacturer, model, etc.), some
of us might know or be able to find much more information.

Your description suggests the device is running a version of Windows
CE customized by the OEM (original equipment manufacturer), rather
than a PDA or phone running a version mostly customized by Microsoft
(e.g. Pocket PC). I'm mostly familiar with the latter, so some of my
ideas might be wrong.


>
>For some unknown reason, the HD (all 2 gig of it!) has been erased along
>with, of course, the OS?...
>
>My questions are......
>
>Can a version of this OS be obtained from anywhere? (I asked him if there
>was a code stuck to the laptop as is normal for laptops with
>preloaded/embedded software but there isn't one)

Windows CE is never available as a separate retail product. So no way
to obtain a legal copy other than preloaded in a device. Unless you
can get a copy from the OEM.


>
>If it's not possible to get this particular OS, is there an alternative??

It's usually loaded in the device ROM (read only memory), and thus not
erased by much. A reset might be sufficient to reload the OS.

1) Look for a small hole marked "reset", that the device's stylus can
just fit into. Try poking the hole with the stylus; you should feel a
little "give" when you poke. If you're lucky, the device will start up
and you'll be set. This would actually be a "soft" reset, which is
similar to shutting down and restarting a desktop PC, so you might
even have kept whatever data your friend had stored.

2) If you manage to find the reset button, but that doesn't work, you
can try a "hard" reset. This usually involves some "magical"
combination of pressing on/off button, some other button, and/or the
reset button. 


>
>The laptop/notebook was purchased from Ebay and the original seller has
>offered to load OS again at a charge of £30 so I guess there must be
>something WE can do.

Doesn't sound like any Windows CE device I've encountered.

>
>Many thanks all
>
>Kevin
>PS - I think the notebook lacks a CD drive.....will confirm this ASAP
>
>As you can guess, I'm not at all familiar with the working of this OS so any
>help that would get the laptop working again is greatly appreciated

-----------------------------------------
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Robert E. Zaret
PenFact, Inc.
20 Park Plaza, Suite 400
Boston, MA 02116
www.penfact.com
Useful reading (be sure to read its disclaimer first):
   http://catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html

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Thread

WIN CE - Help and information required "nosey" <thisisnotreal@outerspace.com> - 2011-05-19 17:11 +0100
  Re: WIN CE - Help and information required r_z_aret@pen_fact.com - 2011-05-19 13:22 -0400
    Re: WIN CE - Help and information required "nosey" <thisisnotreal@outerspace.com> - 2011-06-05 21:24 +0100
      Re: WIN CE - Help and information required Woody <ellwoodcolahan@gmail.com> - 2011-06-06 12:46 -0700
      Re: WIN CE - Help and information required r_z_aret@pen_fact.com - 2011-06-07 11:56 -0400

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