nanode
Posts: 1
Joined: Fri Nov 27, 2015 2:50 am
Location: CT
Contact: Website

Pi Zero Windows and Bootup...

Sat Nov 28, 2015 1:51 am

Hello!

I'm looking to start a project for a portable chiptune performance computer for emulators and software that is windows based, however, I have some questions...

1. Is there a way to have programs that are windows based to start immediately (or close to as possible) on bootup of the RasPi (ie Famitracker)

2. Can the Pi Zero even run a copy of Windows whether it be 10 or lower?

3. (if anyone has tested this) How fast are windows bootup times on the Zero?

Thanks!
-Sam

DirkS
Posts: 10363
Joined: Tue Jun 19, 2012 9:46 pm
Location: Essex, UK

Re: Pi Zero Windows and Bootup...

Sat Nov 28, 2015 3:31 pm

1: No
2: No

Navyscourge
Posts: 258
Joined: Sat Oct 24, 2015 1:50 pm

Re: Pi Zero Windows and Bootup...

Sun Nov 29, 2015 4:46 pm

Your post title is confusing. Why do you mention the PiZero (the new model released this week)? It is the least powerful of all the models, so you might be better considering the Pi2

Windows itself is written for an x86 processor; the Pi runs on an ARM processor. The two processors require two different sets of instructions at the processor level, a bit like written language in English and Chinese (you cannot even guess what the equivalent letters are). Windows has such high system performance requirements, that none of the Pis have the power to run the Windows system. If you were to try to emulate anything Windows based, you would need to first emulate a x86 processor and then the Windows system calls; which are nearly impossible as only Microsoft has the source code. Lots have asked, but the answer is always no.

The Windows 10 for the Pi is only the Windows 10 IoT version (Internet of Things, like a posh fridge). To use this on the Pi, you need to create a program on a full Windows 10 system on a Laptop / Desktop and copy it to the Pi, where it can run; it does not have the functionality to have keyboards and screens, even using this method.

The program you suggested does make the source code available, so you might try compiling it yourself, but it might use Windows libraries and you would need the Linux equivalents, if they existed and if they worked the same.

You can run a reasonable performance using DosBox, which only runs DOS programs, so if you have something from the 70s you could try that.

asandford
Posts: 1998
Joined: Mon Dec 31, 2012 12:54 pm
Location: Waterlooville

Re: Pi Zero Windows and Bootup...

Mon Nov 30, 2015 12:46 am

The PiZero can't run Win10 IoT, only the 2 can.

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