How to Dual Boot Android with almost any OS

Hey guys this tutorial will show you how to install Android as a dual boot to most OS. You do not need a touchscreen for this, all you need is a mouse and keyboard. Wifi works brilliantly as do most features.


Latest Build:
Feb 27, 2012 3:38 AM android-x86-4.0-RC1

Features:
  • Kernel 2.6.35.7, KMS enable
  • Wifi support with GUI
  • Ethernet configuration GUI
  • Better disk installer
  • Power Suspend/resume (S3 mode)
  • Battery Status
  • Software mouse cursor
  • Mouse wheel
  • Support netbook native resolution
  • Audio (ALSA)
  • V4l2 Camera support
  • External monitor support
  • External storage auto mount support
  • Support external keyboard
  • Debug mode with busybox
  • Bluetooth

For this particular job you need:
A Laptop or PC
A blank Disc or USB at least 512Mb in size
An Internet Connection
The latest build of the x86 Android (can be developer preview or a release candidate) Downloaded from http://www.android-x86.org/download
A harddrive with at 5Gb of space.
Unetbootin
A Windows PC, or a Virtual Machine, or Wine, or a program that allows you to open .exe files on other OS

Step 1. Download the x86 Android from the website. Preferably 4.0, for most laptops and PC's, use the download with ASUS in its name.

Step 2. Download UnetBootIn if you are using a USB from here http://unetbootin.sourceforge.net/ or IMGburn from here
http://download.imgb...urn_2.5.6.0.exe

Step 3. Place the ISO file you have downloaded in a folder on your desktop.
If you are using a USB follow step 4A, If you are using a Disc follow step 4B

Step 4A. Run UnetBootIn and select diskimage at the bottom of the program. Click the ... to choose the .iso file we saved to our desktop remember? Select USB drive at the bottom of the page and choose the directory letter. We don't have to worry about anything else for now so press okay.

Step 4B. Run IMGburn, Press write to disc and select the .iso file on our desktop by pressing the folder and navigating our way there, for destination choose the disc drive with your blank CD/DVD inside it and press the .iso to disc button under it. Allow it to do it's thing.

Step 5. Open up your start menu for windows users. Open my computer and right click your C: drive. Storage --> Properties . Check that it has the space we need and that it is formatted to NTFS. This should be done by default but be sure just in case.

**I reccomend you back up your important files at this point, just in case :) **

Step 6. Insert your disc/usb into a drive and restart your computer.

Step 7. Open your Bios/Boot Options and set your USB/CD or DVD to first priority.

Step 8. Allow the computer to read the file and you should see a dialogue appear, choose install android to hard disk
.
Step 9. Choose your partition, this is where it gets tricky as linux doesn't show the names of partitions, my C: drive is always the third, but yours could be anyone one of them, It can only be an NTFS drive so try one.

Step 10. Now it should ask you about format options select don't format.

Step 11. It will ask to install Grub Loader, Select yes (this is our multiboot utility)

Step 12. Now if it is the correct drive it should say a The installer found a Windows Partition. If It said that skip to Step 14. If it hasn't go to step 13.

Step 13. Restart your computer and repeat steps 8 - 12 but select a different NTFS drive until the program tells you it found the windows partition.

Step 14. It will now say "do you want to install /system directory as read-write?" Select Yes. It will now begin installing Android.

Step 15. It will ask you to create a disc image, select yes, this allows it to save your apps/work/android setup

Step 16. It will prompt you to set the space in Mb the image can take in MegaBytes. I reccomend 1Gb, so type 1024 or any other amount of space you want. This may take a while, feel like a break? Go have one.

Step 17. Now you can select create a fake sd card, to store your system files in, type 1024. I haven't figured out how to access this in windows yet but, create one anyway to store phone files I suppose.

Step 18. Now reboot your PC/Laptop

Step 19. Now you can choose your boot options. This will happen everytime you boot your PC or Laptop. Upon first boot android may take a small time to load.

Step 20. Set up your Google account. And away you go.


Known Bugs Within Android 4.0 Release Candidates:
Yay! Bugs in The Release Candidate!
Known Models of PC That Are Compatible:

Known Models Of Laptop That Are Compatible:
Acer Aspire One
Asus EeePc Series
Dell Inspiron Mini Duo
Samsung Q1U
Viewsonic Viewpad 10
Lenovo ThinkPad x61 Tablet


Have questions?
Feel free to ask.

Also If you used this be sure to rate it. This will have pictures added soon.
 
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Zerosuit connor

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You can use EasyBCD to add a new startup entry for android.
Oh, thank you. ^-^
Managed to boot without install yet?
It tells me that my laptop is not an ASUS product, then my laptop reboots.
What model lappy is it?
Toshiba Satellite L500D-11J, a Dutch one if I remember right.
Try the EEepc ISo and if not I can't help you, I only have 3 netbooks and it all boots and installs brilliantly on them, you could also try another USB I have had issues with that too.
 

Wiip™

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You can use EasyBCD to add a new startup entry for android.
Oh, thank you. ^-^
Managed to boot without install yet?
It tells me that my laptop is not an ASUS product, then my laptop reboots.
What model lappy is it?
Toshiba Satellite L500D-11J, a Dutch one if I remember right.
Try the EEepc ISo and if not I can't help you, I only have 3 netbooks and it all boots and installs brilliantly on them, you could also try another USB I have had issues with that too.
Mkay. ;)
 

shamiko_

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Did it, but no longer want it on my computer. How do i remove it and the Dual Boot screen?
Delete the Folder from your partition or harddrive.
to get rid of the GRUB boot loader get a copy of either a windows 7 installation disk or a recovery disk for wondows 7/vista
When you get to the Regional settings, select your Location/Keyboard setting then click next. On the next page you must click on "Repair your computer."

On the next page, if it finds your Windows Vista/7 installation, make sure it is UNSELECTED before clicking next.
Then click on "Command prompt". From there, type in the folowing:

Code:
bootrec.exe /fixboot

Code:
bootrec.exe /fixmbr
Now close the two windows and click "Restart."

Take out your Vista/7 DVD and hopefully, you will be left with your Windows Vista/7 Bootloader.
 

Zerosuit connor

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Whip make sure wifi is enabled on your laptop itself if all else fails, reboot android and try again , Or use Ethernet. I will have a look around and see what I can find
 

frogboy

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I'm assuming you can't connect to Wi-Fi if you're running this on a desktop PC? It just hangs on "Turning on Wi-Fi"...
 

Zerosuit connor

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The original version is supposed to have Ethernet but I am not sure as I no longer have a netbook or laptop to test on.
Original Version - (should work on PC) http://android-x86.googlecode.com/files/android-x86-4.0-RC1-asus_laptop.iso
If that doesn't work on PC use - http://android-x86.googlecode.com/files/android-x86-4.0-RC1-eeepc.iso


If not, you can use this modified version of ICS which includes ethernet config.
Info - http://www.android-dev.ro/2012/02/22/android-x86-virtualbox-support/
Direct Link - http://www.buildroid.org/Download/android-x86-vm-20120130.iso.gz (I think?)
 

raiderscrusade

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Is there a list of the well known and popular apps which are compatible with Android x86?

Also, is there a guide on how to install downloaded APKs onto Android x86?
 

Zerosuit connor

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Is there a list of the well known and popular apps which are compatible with Android x86?

Also, is there a guide on how to install downloaded APKs onto Android x86?
Most apps are compatible, although due to the nature of the market, some apps may not show in the market. To install apps download them on Android X86 through the browser, and open them through android x86 file manager. If the file manager won't install them, then download Astro File Manager from the market.
 

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Hi, I wanted to try this out on my HP Pavilion 2000-210US laptop so I decided to try it out with a live usb, I didn't really exactly know which version to use, so I tried the amd one, and it booted fine. I don't know if you can't do this or not, but can I use my keyboard that's built into my laptop?
 

Zerosuit connor

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Hi, I wanted to try this out on my HP Pavilion 2000-210US laptop so I decided to try it out with a live usb, I didn't really exactly know which version to use, so I tried the amd one, and it booted fine. I don't know if you can't do this or not, but can I use my keyboard that's built into my laptop?
It doesn't work?
 

Nujui

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Hi, I wanted to try this out on my HP Pavilion 2000-210US laptop so I decided to try it out with a live usb, I didn't really exactly know which version to use, so I tried the amd one, and it booted fine. I don't know if you can't do this or not, but can I use my keyboard that's built into my laptop?
It doesn't work?

Nope, all I can do to type is use the virtual keyboard with my mouse
 

Zerosuit connor

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Hi, I wanted to try this out on my HP Pavilion 2000-210US laptop so I decided to try it out with a live usb, I didn't really exactly know which version to use, so I tried the amd one, and it booted fine. I don't know if you can't do this or not, but can I use my keyboard that's built into my laptop?
It doesn't work?

Nope, all I can do to type is use the virtual keyboard with my mouse
Try long clicking on a text input area and select input or keyboard options, does aanything else show? Or try using a ps2 keyboard if you aren't all reAdy I will install on my hp all in one, and try :) if not try install instead of live boots.
 

DaveDH

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hey there ,
I just wanted to say thanks for the tutorial !
But i am facing some difficulties :( First here are my specs :

Laptop
Fujitsu Siemens Amilo Pa 1510
AMD Turion ™ 64 x 2 Mobile
Technology TL-50
798 MHz , 1,37 GB

Windows XP Media Center Edition
Version 2002 Service Pack 3
Made by Pliek

I have an HDD wich i splitt up in two parts C-Disk has 30Gb ( 6GB free space ) D-disk has 45 GB ( 10 GB free space ) . And i've got an USB flash drive with 1GB .

hope that gives you enough data :)

I've followed your tutorial and this is the story :
offcourse i've selected the USB flashe device as first priority in the bios :)
2012-05-11%2021.25.10.jpg


I've tried almost everything , and the first problems i encounterd and resolved where the format of the USB drive , first i tried FAT32 , that gave me problems , then i tried just FAT and that worked for me and gave me the menu . i've tried then many of the ISO's and then i saw an black BIOS screen with white lines etc . wich stopped at the line [ 0.140000] Performance Events : .

2012-05-11%2017.02.27.jpg


That problem got resolved after i took the : android-x86-4.0-RC1-amd_brazos.iso . that one worked for me and gave me the menu i was supposed to get .( i also tried every other AMD .iso version and they all give me the same )

2012-05-11%2021.26.06.jpg


After i pressed the : install Android-x86 to harddisk i've got the second menu . But it did not show me the NTFS disk of my laptop , it just showed me the USB flash drive ,

2012-05-11%2021.26.20.jpg


Here's an Youtube film i made from the beginning to the end :)
[VIDEO]http://youtu.be/EZA2Q9656aM[/VIDEO]

even though i knew i couldn't installed it to that , i still tried it and it did not work gheghe :). I've tried another USB flash drive and it gave me the same problem . I even tried other USB ports and that didn't gave me the solution :( I even tried an 8GB microSDcard wich i formatted to FAt and Fat32 but the menu did not saw the SD card .

I found an old .ISO which i burned to an CD an few months ago and it gave me this screen after i boot my laptop from an CD/DVD :

2012-05-11%2021.45.02.jpg


But unfortunately it gave me the same Line [ 0.140000] Performance Events . I know this .ISO isn't for the AMD , but i cannot burn the android-x86-4.0-RC1-amd_brazos.iso to an CD right now :( But i am confident that it will give me the same menu-window as the USB method .

Do you have an solution for me other then buying an Android tablet or laptop :) ?

Many thanks !
Dave
 

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