The OS is at least 17-18 years ago. Yet there is a lot of scattered information and dead ends, and no clarity on how to emulate Pocket PC 2003, the early precedent to Windows Mobile.
How to emulate Pocket PC (PPC) 2003?
1 Answer
Note: The following method was found through trial-and-error and backtracking the steps the installers require. The emulation is done via PBEmulator, not vs_emulator / DeviceEmulator
- (Recommended) Get a Windows XP VM. Windows 7 is possibly supported, but no solid evidence so far
- Download and install eMbedded Visual C++ 4.0 - download @ archive.org
- Seemingly an abandonware. Notice you need the full package, not just the update
- Requires a product key --> You'd need to acquire one somewhere (not too hard)
- (Recommended) Update eMbedded Visual C++ 4.0 to SP4. Download @ Microsoft
- Download the Microsoft Pocket PC 2003 SDK - download @ archive.org
- Seemingly an abandonware. There are reports online that the package used to be on the Microsoft's website, yet was deleted
- Install the main package, which is Microsoft Pocket PC 2003 SDK
- Install "Windows Mobile 2003 Second Edition Emulator Images for Pocket PC - WWE"
- Usually found within "Microsoft Pocket PC 2003 SDK", but can sometimes be found separately online
- Go to Start - All Programs - Microsoft Pocket PC 2003 SDK - Pocket PC 2003 Emulator. It should start up the emulator. Enjoy!
Side notes:
- The PPC emulator uses PBEmulator, not vs_emulator / DeviceEmulator (Microsoft Device Emulator v3.0) - used for Windows Mobile 5/6 and Windows CE 5/6.
- For unknown reasons, the OS images made for PBEmulator aren't compatible with Microsoft Device Emulator v3.0, and vice versa.
- Seemingly, one key difference between them is that PBEmulator emulated x86 architecture, while Microsoft Device Emulator v3.0 emulates ARMv4/ARMv5