Flash Storage; Ffs Partitions; Working With Ffs Partitions - Symbol PDT 8100 Series Product Reference Manual

PDT 8100 Series with Intel XScale Technology Product Reference Guide

Flash Storage

Programs pre-installed on the terminal are stored in ROM (read-only memory). You cannot
remove, modify, or accidentally lose this software. You may add programs and data files to
RAM (random access memory).
In addition to the RAM-based storage standard on Pocket PC terminals, the terminal is also
equipped with a non-volatile Flash-based storage area which can store data (partitions) that
can not be corrupted by a cold boot. This Flash area is divided into two categories: Flash
File System (FFS) Partitions and Non-FFS Partitions.

FFS Partitions

The terminal includes two FFS partitions. These partitions appear to the terminal as a hard
drive that the OS file system can write files to and read files from. Data is retained even if
power is removed.
The two FFS Partitions appear as two separate folders in the Windows CE file system and
are as follows:
• Platform: The Platform FFS Partition contains Symbol-supplied programs and
Dynamic Link Libraries (DLLs). This FFS is configured to include DLLs that control
system operation. Since these drivers are required for basic terminal operation,
only experienced users should modify the content of this partition.
• Application: The Application FFS Partition is used to store application programs
needed to operate the terminal. This partition includes the Symbol demo program,
which can be overwritten with your own program.

Working with FFS Partitions

Because the FFS partitions appear as folders under the Windows CE file system, they can
be written to and read like any other folder. For example, an application program can write
data to a file located in the Application folder just as it would to the Windows folder.
However, the file in the Application folder is in non-volatile storage and is not lost on a cold
boot (e.g., when power is removed for a long period of time).
Standard tools such as ActiveSync can be used to copy files to and from the FFS partitions.
They appear as the "Application" and "Platform" folders to the ActiveSync explorer. This is
useful when installing applications on the terminal. Applications stored in the Application
folder are retained even when the terminal is cold booted, just as the PDT 8100 Demo
program is retained in memory.
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