Running Windows CE 5 on an old 486

[Joelacrane]

I was just curious... Is it possible to create an image of CE 5, stick it on an old laptop and boot to it? I know CE runs natively on x86 processors... and I'm always looking for interesting things like that to try. I've got an old 486 laptop laying around...

Discussion anyone?

[Nurhisham Hussein]

I know CE runs natively on x86 processors...

Does it? I was under the impression that CE only ran on RISC processors, unless you're thinking of using a device emulator.

[Joelacrane]

I believe it does. I think the emulator is even a "486".

Ce didn't support x86 procs until version 2.0 was released.

[Nurhisham Hussein]

Why so it does! (http://www.microsoft.com/windows/embedded/eval/wince/default.mspx)

I learned something new today...cool :)

[Joelacrane]

But I don't want to emulate it. I want to run it right on the computer. This old thing only Windows 95 and I don't have Windows NT... So i was just thinking that it would be entertaining to make my own image and run it right on the computer. Even Windows Mobile 5 (VGA) would work if I could get a mouse pointer. I dont know if Windows CE has drivers for IDE hard drives and Ps2 mice... And I can't seem to find any information about it.

[isajoo]

dont mean to burst your dream bubble, but although the cool factor in this idea is high, getting it to run smooth will probably be hard. so i would suggest, if u are serious about getting the 486 laptop to function, get a low down version of linux OS. that would be the headache free solution. but keep tring to get wm5 to work, it needs help even on ppc's. LOL

[Joelacrane]

But thats too normal. Actually, i have been wanting to try linux for a long time. I hear that Fedora Core is pretty neat, but i doubt that would run.

I'll bet CE would perform well. The CE 5 emulator actually emulates a 486 processor, know what that means? Maybe it means that CE would run on a 486? I only have 16mb of RAM, so that would limit things a bit, but then again, wouldn't it also on linux?

I'm not looking to actually USE the computer. I just want to try, you know?

If i was going to try out linux, I'd get an Xbox And install it on that. Sweet.