What’s the point?

Well, if you like your Android phone and all the apps you have installed on it I’m sure you will also like to run apps on your laptop. Bigger screen and better sound etc.

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Replacement for Windows, Mac or even Linux Desktop systems?

Some belive what I just said. The Android-x86 Project (Run Android on your PC) is about porting the Android Open Source Project to the x86 platform.

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Install the system to hard drive

Say for example that you have a laptop with Windows 10 installed as the only operating system. If you just create one extra partition of about 5 GB you can install Android KitKat, Lollipop, Marshmallow, Nougat, Oreo, Pie, 10 or 11 on this extra partition and then “dual-boot”.

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Android-x86 KitKat 4.4.4 Build 8 with GAPPS, kernel 4.0.9-exton-android-x86, Bluetooth (working!) and Mesa 10.5.9

android-x86-kitkat-exton-160125-smallAndroid-x86 KitKat 4.4.4 Exton build 160125, version 8, is a ready!
I’ve added Mesa (3D Graphics Library) 10.5.9 for better Graphic performance. The system can run live (from CD or a USB stick) on almost all laptops (and some Desktop computers). For example Acer (Aspire), HP, Samsung, Dell, Toshiba, Lenovo, Thinkpad, Fujitsu, Panasonic and Ausus laptops. The Android system is distributed in the form of an ISO file as the rest of my Linux distributions. I.e. you must (as usual) burn the ISO file to a CD if you want to run the system live on your computer or install it to hard drive. Read about how to burn ISO files. Or skip that. Just use ImgBurn. Nothing can go wrong. You can easily install the system to your hard drive and install new apps. You can also install new apps while running the system live. Google Play Store is pre-installed so you can just make your choices…

Used kernel
4.0.9-exton-android-x86.

Replacement
This version (version 8) replaces all my previous (7) Android-x86 4.4.4 KitKat builds. In version 8 (as in version 7) I’ve added GAPPS. I.e. Google Play Services, Google Play Store, Maps, YouTube and more apps (for example Bluetooth File Transfer, Spotify and WPS Office). Everything just works.

My sources
My KitKat Build 8 is based on the Android-x86 ProjectRun Android on your PC. So is my other Android x86 builds.

Wireless connections
When the system has booted up you will normally be asked to configure you wireless network. Unfortunately the Android-x86 project doesn’t support Broadcom wifi cards. Necessary Broadcom drivers can be installed in other Linux systems (for example in Ubuntu), but not (yet) in an Android-x86 system. So if you have a Broadcom wireless card and want to run my KitKat build 8 you’ll have to use a wired connection.

Install to hard drive
Say for example that you have a laptop with Windows 10 installed as the only operating system. If you just create one extra partition of about 5 GB you can install Android KitKat on this extra partition and then “dual-boot”. I.e. you can turn on your computer (called “booting it up”) and decide whether you want to start Windows or Android KitKat. Grub will be installed as boot handler during the installation of Android KitKat.

More about Grub and “dual-boot/multi-boot”

If you already have have one or more Linux systems installed on your computer you should skip installing Grub during the installation of Android KitKat. If you use Grub2 (which Ubuntu and most other Linux systems use as boot loader) you should instead add these lines to /boot/grub/grub.cfg or /etc/grub.d/40_custom:
(Example):
menuentry ‘Android-x86 4.4.4 KitKat 160125 (sda8)’ {
insmod gzio
insmod part_msdos
insmod ext2
set root=’hd0,msdos8′
linux /android-2016-01-25/kernel quiet root=/dev/ram0 androidboot.hardware=android_x86 SRC=/android-2016-01-25
initrd /android-2016-01-25/initrd.img
}

If you use Grub Legacy (which is very unusual today even though Android KitKat uses it) you should add these lines to /boot/grub/menu.lst
title Android-x86 4.4.4 KitKat 160125 (sda8)
root (hd0,7)

kernel /android-2016-01-25/kernel quiet root=/dev/ram0 androidboot.hardware=android_x86 SRC=/android-2016-01-25
initrd /android-2016-01-25/initrd.img

USB installation
Read my instruction. It is for AndEX (Android) Lollipop, but the same instruction works for my KitKat version. You can run Android-x86 from a USB stick with persistence. I.e. all system changes will be saved on the stick.

NOTE ABOUT BIOS CHANGES
You’ll have to make changes in BIOS (boot order) so that your computer will start up from the CD or USB stick before the hard drive. On a new computer you may also have to change from UEFI Boot to Legacy Boot.

Runs in VirtualBox
You can also run/test the system in VirtualBox. I.e. run it directly from the ISO file and even install it to a hard drive created in VirtualBox. Note: A Lollipop Android-x86 system can normally not run in VirtualBox.

Updates
If you install Andriod-x86 to hard drive or to a USB stick with persistence installed apps will be automatically updated/upgraded via Google Play Store. The system will check for updates all the time or after a reboot. It works in the same way as on your Android phone.

ATI Radeon compatibility
I can mention that this KitKat Build 8 works on my old Acer Aspire 5102WLMi AMD with ATI Radeon Xpress 1100. Many 3D games run just fine.

What’s the point?

Well, if you like your Android phone and all the apps you have installed on it I’m sure you will also like to run apps from your laptop. Bigger screen and better sound etc. Read my article About how useful an Android-x86 system can be for the average computer user.

Screenshots
The Japanese Koi Fish Desktop pic 1
Showing all installed apps pic 2
Enable Bluetooth in Settings pic 3
Scanning for Bluetooth devices with Bluetooth File Transfer pic 4

DOWNLOAD
This build (8) has been replaced by Build 9 from 160214.

Android is a trademark of Google Inc.

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AndEX Marshmallow 6.0 with GAPPS and kernel-4.0.9-exton – Build 151206

andex-marshmallow-desktop-apps-20151206-smallNEWS 151206 – AndEX – Marshmallow 6.0 with kernel 4.0.9-exton and GAPPS
My build of Android-x86 Marshmallow 6.0 has GAPPS pre-installed. I.e. Google Play Services, Google Play Store, Maps, Gmail, YouTube and more apps. For example: Aptoide, Spotify, Facebook, Google Chrome and OfficeSuite 8. The ISO is called android-x86-6.0-marshmallow-kernel-4.0.9-exton-GAPPS-692mb-151206.iso. AndEX Marshmallow Build 151206 is totally error-free (as far as I know). Google Chrome was installed as a replacement for the original Browser, which didn’t work properly. (Nothing could be downloaded).

ABOUT Andex Marshmallow
My compiled Android-x86 system (Marshmallow 6.0) can run live (from CD) or be installed on almost all laptops (and some Desktop computers). For example Acer (Aspire), HP, Samsung, Dell, Toshiba, Lenovo, Thinkpad, Fujitsu, Panasonic and Ausus laptops. The Android system is distributed in the form of an ISO file as the rest of my Linux distributions. I.e. you must (as usual) burn the ISO file to a CD if you want to run the system live on your computer or install it to hard drive. Read about how to burn ISO files. Or skip that. Just use ImgBurn. Nothing can go wrong.

More about AndEX Marshmallow
Marshmallow 6.0 is the latest version of the Android mobile operating system developed by Google. I call my remaster of it AndEX Marshmallow Live CD. It uses “my” special kernel 4.0.9-exton-android-x86 with some extra features. I.e. extra drivers. My Android-x86 KitKat 4.4.4 build from 2015-07-21 will also cost you 9 $. I has one advantage over the Marshmallow and Lollipop versions: The system can be used also on older laptops. Read more about the KitKat 4.4.4 version 150721 or DOWNLOAD it instantly.

Installing new apps in AndEX Marshmallow
Use Google Play Store or Aptoide Apps Store, which are pre-installed. Just make your choices! One suggestion: Google Camera or HD Camera ULTRA.

Install the system to hard drive
Say for example that you have a laptop with Windows 10 installed as the only operating system. If you just create one extra partition of about 5 GB you can install Android Marsmallow on this extra partition and then “dual-boot”. I.e. you can turn on your computer (called “booting it up”) and decide whether you want to start Windows or Android Marsmallow. Grub will be installed as boot handler/loader during the installation of Android Marshmallow. Note: The installation will take only about one minute. And the installation to hard drive is so simple that a 10 year old child can do it.

More about Grub and “dual-boot/multi-boot”

If you already have have one or more Linux systems installed on your computer you should skip installing Grub during the installation of AndEX. If you use Grub2 (which Ubuntu and most other Linux systems use as boot loader) you should instead add these lines to /boot/grub/grub.cfg or /etc/grub.d/40_custom
menuentry ‘Android-x86 6.0 Marshmallow 151206 (sda8)’ {
insmod gzio
insmod part_msdos
insmod ext2
set root=’hd0,msdos8′
linux /android-2015-12-03/kernel quiet root=/dev/ram0 androidboot.hardware=android_x86 SRC=/android-2015-12-03
initrd /android-2015-12-03/initrd.img
}

If you use Grub Legacy (which is very unusual today even though Android Marsmallow uses it) you should add these lines to /boot/grub/menu.lst
title Android-x86 6.0 Marshmallow 151206 (sda8)
root (hd0,7)

kernel /android-2015-12-03/kernel quiet root=/dev/ram0 androidboot.hardware=android_x86 SRC=/android-2015-12-03
initrd /android-2015-12-03/initrd.img

Bluethooth
Bluetooth is working as expected. Just enable Bluetooth in settings and you can share anything with your other Bluetooth devices. To make it easy install Bluetooth File Share.

Language settings
You can (of course) run AndEX Marshmallow in any language. Just go to Settings and change to your preferred language. The changes will take immediate  effect. This can (of course) also be done while running the system live (from CD/USB).

Mounting devices
You can’t mount (reach) your internal hard drive. You can however mount a “normal” USB stick. Just go to Settings >> Storage & USB. It will look like this. (I have mounted a USB stick 3.72 GB  with CRUX/CruxEX on it). You can also install ES File Explorer and use it to mount external USB hard disks and “normal” USB sticks.
andex-6.0-usbstick-mount-20151209

Broadcom Wireless cards
The support for Broadcom Wireless cards in not complete (in the Android-x86 project). I have experience from two different cards – BCM4311 and BCM43142. The first mentioned one works.

USB installation
Read my instruction. Learn how you can run AndEX from a USB stick with persistence. Read under A).

VirtualBox
You can’t run AndEX Marshmallow in VirtualBox. I.e. the system will start up properly, but you can’t reach the Desktop. The problem is that you can’t get a Internet connection. You will get a message saying “To see available networks, turn Wi-Fi on”. That can’t be done. (And it doesn’t matter if you have a wired connection). Maybe this problem can be fixed by changing VirtualBox’s Network settings, but I have had no success with that (yet). Note: My Lollipop (151010) and KitKat (150721) versions can run very well in VirtualBox.

What’s the point?
Well, if you like your Android phone and all the apps you have installed on it I’m sure you will also like to run apps from your laptop. Bigger screen and better sound etc. Also: In AndEX Marshmallow Build 151206 almost all apps and games can be installed via Google Play Store. Still not convinced? Then read my article about “How useful an Androx-x86 system can be for the average computer user“.

NOTE1/WARNING1
You must use a fairly new/modern computer. Android-x86 Marshmallow won’t run (even start) on older computers. My other Android remaster KitKat 4.4.4 Build 150721 will run also on older computers.

NOTE2/WARNING2
Before you buy and download this version of AndEX Marshmallow you must be aware of that not all apps downloaded from Google Play Store can run in an Android-x86 system. Some very big (around 1GB) games for example won’t run. On the other hand I could run Pes Club Manager, which is of 866 MB.

Screenshots
Screenshot 1 – AndEX Desktop with Beach Real Live Wallpaper (pre-installed)
Screenshot 2 – AndEX – The Desktop at first boot
Screenshot 3 – AndEX – The beginning of your configuration

DOWNLOAD
This Marshmallow build has been replaced by AndEX Marshmallow 6.0.1 Build 160131.

Note3: The AndEX Lollipop ISO has been out on SourceForge.net and the Swedish Linux Society for free from 150307 until 150402. The ISO file was downloaded about 50000 times during that period. More than any of my other Linux distributions (ever).

Android is a trademark of Google Inc.

17 Comments AndEXAndroid

AndEX (Android-x86) 5.1.1 Lollipop with GAPPS and kernel 4.0.8 – Build 151010

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