Android-x86 Installation

Android x86 is virtual machine for android. It runs faster than our normal emulator which comes with android SDK. It is having other advantages as well.
Here I am focusing on installation of android x86. You have to follow steps given below. There are many steps but these are very simple. 

• Creating virtual device:

1.       Setup Oracle Virtual Box (Can be downloaded from http://dlc.sun.com.edgesuite.net/virtualbox/4.1.18/VirtualBox-4.1.18-78361-Win.exe ).

2.       Download .iso file for virtual device from http://android-x86.googlecode.com/files/android-x86-2.3-RC1-eeepc.iso ). It will be different for different processors. Above link is for P4 processor.

3.       Open Oracle VM Virtual Box.

4.       Select ”New” option (Left upper corner, below file menu).

5.       Click “Next”.

6.       Enter name for virtual device (Example Androidx86).

7.       Below that select “Linux” OS type.

8.       Version “Linux 2.6”.

9.       Click “Next”.

10.   Allocate memory 256 MB (As per requirement).

11.   Click “Next”.

12.   Here select “Create New Hard Disk”

13.   Click “Next”.

14.   Select “VDI” and click “Next”.

15.   Select “Dynamically Allocate” and click “Next”.

16.   Now browse folder to which you want to create hard disk.

17.   Allocate memory say 2GB more than enough.

18.   Click “Next”.

19.   Click “Create.

• Internet Connectivity:

By following above procedure you will see Virtual Device without internet. In order to connect your device to internet use following steps,

1.       Right click on created device in oracle virtual box.

2.       Select “Settings” option.

3.       Now at left hand side select “Network” option.

4.       In “Attached to:” drop down list select “NAT” option.

5.       Open “Advanced” tab.

6.       In “Adapter Type:” select “PCnet-PCI II (Am79C970A)”.

7.      Check “Cable connected” check box.

• Command Prompt Settings:

1.       Go to “C:\Program Files\Oracle\VirtualBox” from command prompt.

2.  Type “VBoxManage modifyvm "NameOfYourAndroidVM" --natpf1 adb,tcp,*,5555,*,5555.

• First Time Starting:

1.       On first pop up click ”Next”.

2.       Then browse .iso file and click “Next” then click “Start”.

3.       Now it will ask you for installation like linux. Now you have to use arrow keys.

4.       Select “Installation” =>  “Create/Modify partition” => “New” => “Primary”.

5.       Give some size.

6.       Select “Write”.

7.       Type “Yes” and press “Enter”.

8.       Select “Quit” => “sda1 Linux” => “ext3” => “Yes” => “Yes” => “Yes” => “Run android-x86”

9.       Still you are not getting internet access then go to settings and enable “Ethernet Configuration”.

For eclipse integration see http://tech-world-brij.blogspot.in/2012/08/android-x86-eclipse-integration.html.