Enable automated testing on windows and other general sample platform improvements

The sample platform has been a good way to test regression tests, but still lacks windows support. It's been foreseen, but unfinished. It should be finished, so we can ensure it's working both on Linux and Windows. Besides that, there are some things that need to be finished. This task thus encompasses:

a) Windows support b) FTP upload support c) Improved error detection d) Other small listed improvements on the issue tracker