deviceaccess.lib issue in Store App for Windows RT

Question

Hi,

We are developing Windows Store application for ARM platform i.e. testing on Windows RT tablet.

Application has Windows Store App and Windows Runtime component.

We wanted to call CreateDeviceAccessInstance from Windows Runtime Component to use general file system IOCTL like
FSCTL_GET_NTFS_VOLUME_DATA.

So we added deviceaccess.h and deviceaccess.lib to the project.
Compilation for ARM platform was successful.

But when executing application on Windows RT, Screen is blank. No controls were displayed.

If i remove the deviceaccess.lib from project, all Controls are displayed.
Communication between Store App and Windows Runtime component are successful.

Actually I have taken deviceaccess.dll & other dlls from Windows RT system folder.
Converted dll to lib and copied to VC-> lib -> arm folder.

Same application built for x86 platform works fine on Windows 8 x86 PC.

Please let me know what could be the issue.

Thanks,
Raphel

Answer 1

Hi Raphel,

You shouldn't be copying DLLs from the system folder and I'm not sure what you mean by converting the dll to a lib. You should use the libraries from the SDK, which includes deviceaccess.lib for ARM.

That said, I don't believe Windows Store apps can use FSCTLs even with the correct libraries. I've asked a devices specialist to take a look at your posts to confirm.

--Rob

Answer 2

Thanks Rob. We are expecting your clarification.

Answer 3

Raphel,

Windows Store Apps are able to call into specialized devices on x86 and x64 systems.  IOCTLs from Windows Store Apps are limited to specialized devices and attempts to use other types of IOCTLs such as FSCTLs will fail with access denied.

Best Wishes - Eric 

Answer 4

Hi Eric,

Thanks a lot for your reply.

You have mentioned "Windows Store Apps are able to call into specialized devices on x86 and x64 systems"

Please confirm whether this is also applicable for ARM systems like Windows RT.

 

Could you please share MSDN link for your clarification fi any.

"IOCTLs from Windows Store Apps are limited to specialized devices and attempts to use other types of IOCTLs such as FSCTLs will fail with access denied."

 

Actually we are developing a tool for our embedded storage device to improve performance.

So we require to use IOCTLs like IOCTL_SFFDISK_DEVICE_COMMAND, FSCTL_EXTEND_VOLUME, FSCTL_GET_NTFS_VOLUME_DATA etc.

Our target platform is Windows 8 (x86 / ARM) tablet.

Question is:

1. Is there any approach (like OEM app i.e. partnership between device manufacturer and Microsoft) to handle these IOCTLs in Store App?  OR  calling these IOCTLs are not at all possible?

 

Please clarify this.

 

Thanks & Regards,

Raphel

Answer 5

Raphel,

It is not possible to use FSCTLs or disk IOCTLS from a Windows Store App regardless of platform or approach.

Best Regards - Eric

---

This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.

Answer 6

Eric,

Thanks a lot for this clarification.

Regards,

Raphel

Answer 7

Raphel,

You are very welcome.

Best Wishes - Eric

---

This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.