Android-x86 KitKat 4.4.4 Exton build 150606, version 6, is a total rebuild.
I’ve added Mesa 10.5.4 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
4.0.0-exton-android-x86.
Replacement
This version (version 6) replaces all my previous (5) Android-x86 4.4.4 KitKat builds. In version 6 I’ve added GAPPS. I.e. Google Play Services, Google Play Store, Google Chrome, Maps, YouTube and more apps (for example OfficeSuite). Everything just works. It can happen that you get some error messages, but don’t worry. Just close the “error windows”. The installed apps will work.
Running Android-x86 Exton build version 6 with GAPPS
When you run the system for the first time from CD you’ll get the chance to update Google Play Services to the latest version. Watch this slideshow.
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 AndEX you’ll have to use a wired connection.
Install to hard drive
Say for example that you have a laptop with Windows 8.1 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 150606 (sda8)’ {
insmod gzio
insmod part_msdos
insmod ext2
set root=’hd0,msdos8′
linux /android-2015-05-04/kernel quiet root=/dev/ram0 androidboot.hardware=android_x86 SRC=/android-2015-05-04
initrd /android-2015-05-04/initrd.img
}
If you use Grub Legacy (which is very unusual today even though Android KitKat uses it) you should add thease lines to /boot/grub/menu.lst
title Android-x86 4.4.4 KitKat 150606 (sda8)
root (hd0,7)
kernel /android-2015-05-04/kernel quiet root=/dev/ram0 androidboot.hardware=android_x86 SRC=/android-2015-05-04
initrd /android-2015-05-04/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 6 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 Galactic Core Live Desktop pic 1
The “Live fish” Desktop pic 2
The “Live tiger” Desktop pic 3
The “Live fish in the sea” Desktop pic 4
The “Live aquarium” Desktop pic 5
DOWNLOAD
This version (6) has been replaced by version 7 Build 150721
Android is a trademark of Google Inc.
Build has indeed great 3d performance, I tested some games and all run VERY fast:
Clash Of Clans
Max Payne
Grand Theft Auto 3
Shardlands – crashes on startup, also crashes on vanilla android-x86 4.4-r2 but runs fine on android tablets
Game Of Thrones by Telltale Games runs very fast but has many texture glitches and works fine on the vanilla android-x86 4.4-r2 build, any ideas on the reason?
Thanks for your report! I never run games myself so…
I think you/we can be happy over the fact that many games (but not all) can run on the Android x86 computer architecture.
Sir, I want to play Clash of Clans in my Asus net book 1015 CX, 1 GB ram as in installing native android …….
i tried a lot android x86 and failed to run COC….
Will u provide full support if coc dont run in my netbook after installing ur android…..
regards
Well, maybe your computer isn’t “good enough”. Not enough RAM or…
I.e. difficult to say.
Hi, I just bought your 4.4.4 Kitkat version build 6.
I’m sleepy but won’t go to bed before testing it.
And I wanna ask for future releases,
will I’ll need to rebuy each time a newer version is released?
Not if it isn’t a TOTAL rebuild.
I’ve been testing the 4.4.4 Kitkat version 6 on my Asus Vivobook with intel HD grapics and touchscreen. The touchscreen works perfectly and supports multitouch. Finally a build that works great with with games. I played clash of clans with no hassle. I ran most of the graphics benchmark apps available.
I had a persistent “Unfortunately, your app has stopped “error problem with Dominations. Another Clash of clans type popular RTS game with civilizations/age of empires/rise of nations looking graphics. This game is relatively new and has lots of nasty bugs and performans issues. I got the same issues on any device, including native ARM devices. So it’s not related to the build. I managed to fix the crashing bug after wiping the data with Titanium Backup. Wiping the data and cache with the standart app manager couln’t solve it. I don’t know why. I should add that after the fix, I had a very stable game experience and way much less random crashes than my tablet and my phone.
It’s the best Android x86 version I’ve tested so far. You need to be a little patient at the begining and update “google play services” asap. It pretty stable and satisfying. It’s one tick away from being perfect, if mx player with the x86 codec pluging had worked. But that doesn’t work with the Android-x86.org version either. [REQUEST] It would be great to have that working as it is one of the most popular media players. I tried several other well known media players but no luck., except VLC for android, which is still in development and has artifacts while playing videos.
Everything else works like a charm. This is my best experience with Android-x86 so far. I extremely recommend it especially if you want to play your android games on your pc.
Thanks for testing my build and for your very informative and positive post. I will use it to “promote” this build.
do i hve 2 re donate to get the isos again = kit kat and lollipop
Hello Exton!
Yesterday I bought the Android-x86 KitKat 4.4.4 build 6 für my Lenovo E145. Badly it shows strange behavior: When finished booting everything is horrifying slow. So slow, even just choosing german language takes me FIVE minutes. Booting VESA Mode only shows crippled graphics. Any Idea? Any Help?
I tried the same USB Stick with my neighbours Laptop, Everything worked fine.
Technical Specs Lenovo Thinkpad Edge E145 // CPU: AMD E Series1.4 GHz Dual Core // 4 GB DDR3 SDRAM // Display Adapter: AMD HD8240
PS: Windows 10 runs pretty smooth on it.
That’s bad luck. And not much one can do about it unfortunately. Obviously the system doesn’t fit your graphic card.
Just wondering why you claim “A Lollipop Android-x86 system can normally not run in VirtualBox.” What limits Lollipop from running on a virtual box?
I don’t know, but it doesn’t work. At least not on my computers. Do you have other experiences?