Android in Virtual Box

[whs]

Has anybody ever tried to run Android - especially Honeycomb - in vBox. If yes, from where did you get the .iso. Any other tips would also be appreciated.

 

[DeanP]

I have tried running Android on my vBox.

Here is a way to get the Android .iso (this is from Google): Downloads - live-android - Project Hosting on Google Code

 

[Everlong]

I tried it and I thought it was pretty bad to be honest.

Much better just getting the Android SDK and using the Android virtual machine that comes with that. You can use any Android version you want, including Honeycomb.
Might need to do a bit of tweaking with the hardware properties of the virtual device to get it running smoothly, such as adding a cache partition and increasing the size, and increasing RAM size. Also add GSM support to get Internet within the device. Oh, and ctrl+F11, and ctrl+F12 to flip orientations for the virtual tablet.

 

[Kari]

Honeycomb no, but I'm quite satisfied how Froyo ( Android 2.2) runs on VirtualBox.







Older versions have not worked so well, at least not for me. Here a screenshot from 1.6 running on VirtualBox: http://www.sevenforums.com/virtualization/129896-new-virtualization.html#post1120396

Kari

 

[whs]

Thanks guys. That gives me a point to start.

 

[Kari]

Here's a nice, clear and easy to follow tutorial: AndroidSPIN » HOWTO: Install Android-x86 2.2 in VirtualBox

Kari

 

[Nem]

I use froyo like Kari but here is three links to stay up2date with.

http://android-x86.moonman.dk/
Android-x86 - Porting Android to x86
Downloads - androbox - Project Hosting on Google Code

3nd link has gingerbread but only a test version.

 

[StalkeR]

Hello,just founded this tutorial.
How to Test Drive Google Android on Your PC Without Buying a Phone - How-To Geek
Maybe it will helps you
Boshko.

 

[Everlong]

Hello,just founded this tutorial.
How to Test Drive Google Android on Your PC Without Buying a Phone - How-To Geek
Maybe it will helps you
Boshko.

That's a good guide to getting the SDK setup.

 

[whs]

Hey everybody, now I need help. I got as far as the picture shows. But then the tutorial says:

From the boot menu select “Installation – Install Android-x86 to harddisk”.

But where on earth is the "boot menu". I have no clue.

 

[StalkeR]

In tutorial above from HTG everything is working fine.

 

[whs]

In tutorial above from HTG everything is working fine.

Yeah, but I started with this tutorial. But if this will not work, I will try the HTG tutorial. But that is the SDK Emulator.

 

[Kari]

In tutorial above from HTG everything is working fine.

Yeah, but I started with this tutorial. But if this will not work, I will try the HTG tutorial. But that is the SDK Emulator.

That tutorial is really good, but the guy seems to make the same mistake than I quite often make, taking screenshots where the focus / selection is in a wrong place. In this case the screenshot in step 5 shows VESA mode selected; the real selection to install Android is at the bottom.

So, in step 5 you have to select the last alternative, at the bottom. All previous 4 alternatives start Android in so called live mode where you use the OS directly from CD / ISO without installing it.



Kari

 

[whs]

Thanks Kari. I figured that too and did what you say. Now I have something on my virtual disk ( appr. 300MBs). When I boot the virtual machine, I get the screen as below. But there is nothing I can do with it. I disabled mouse integration, got my mouse but the screen is non-operational.

 

[Kari]

Like this:





Kari

 

[whs]

That would be nice. But I cannot get off that screen that I showed above. I must be missing some key controls.

 

[Nem]

whs move the mouse to the lock icon click and drag up, also right-click on the mouse can also be used as back.

 

[whs]

Thanks guys. It took me a while to figure that one out. But now it works - holy cow.

 

[Kari]

whs move the mouse to the lock icon click and drag up, also right-click on the mouse can also be used as back.

Yes.

When doing it with keyboard, you need first make the vm window active, then press Menu key two times to "open the lock" (I forgot this part, sorry!).

When finally there, go to Main Menu > Settings > Display > Screen Timeout, and set it to maximum (30 minutes) to avoid lock screen as much as possible.

Kari

 

[Nem]

Now if only they did have Honeycomb ported to PC... which i'm sure they're working on. Sure you could use that Emu from the AndroidSDK but that's really slow for me. Though i wouldn't mind using Gingerbread either from one of the links i posted but that is test version one.. but still nice, try it and see.