i.e. your computer's hard disk is not changed or modified at all.
The method uses a Live CD of Plop Linux. Plop Linux allows
USB boot without BIOS support (UHCI, OHCI and EHCI)
CD/DVD boot without BIOS support (IDE)
Instructions:
1) Download the iso of Plop linux
http://download.plop.at/files/ploplinux ... -4.2.2.iso
and burn it to a CD, not a DVD since many older computers
still don't have a DVD reader.
2) Download an iso of android-x86. I found the latest Jelly bean
android-x86-4.2-20130228.iso ---> Android 4.2.2 Feb 28, 2013
https://android-x86.googlecode.com/file ... 130228.iso
Write it on a USB device. You will probably choose a USB stick,
however I am using an external USB card reader.
Dragging the iso file to the device is not sufficient. Instead you must use
the command 'dd' (if you are using linux.) Here's how..
cd to the place where the iso is stored and type
Code: Select all
dd if=android-x86-4.2-20130228.iso of=/dev/sdX
(Be careful to find the correct device name, since you are wiping
out all the data!!) Then type 'sync' in terminal to make sure
that the copying is complete.
3) Boot up your computer with the CD of Plop Linux. Tapping on a
function key may be necessary to show a list of bootable devices.
Choose CD as the device to boot from.
4) You will get a screen like this. Choose 'Plop Boot Manager'.
Don't choose 'Plop Linux' since that will take you to a console!!
5) You will now see a boot manager screen(see image)
Choose 'USB'.
6) If you have properly written your USB device
with a bootable iso, then Android Jellybean will now load.
Now you will see a blue screen (see image)
Choose the first option. The second option 'Vesa' also worked for me.
Some Notes:
1) If you have done some dangerous tinkering with your boot loader
then you may have to go into BIOS and choose 'Reset to default'.
2) Power off is in the Android settings control panel however it
didn't work properly on my computer. Only my
hard drive shut off so I had to press my on/off button
3) I was able to plug-in a USB stick and even an Android tablet
(with an OTG cable) and play music files and play slideshows
with files on other devices.
4) Unfortunately there wasn't a file manager included in Android
Jellybean
5) For experts ---> Help file advises that it is possible to put
executeable binaries in /ploplinux/bin before burning the CD.
6) Note that there is an option to install the Plop boot manager on
a hard drive however this modifies the MBR of your computer
so don't do that unless you understand the importance of
your computer's MBR.
7) If for some reason you find yourself at the Plop console
and want to get out --> Type 'reboot'
8 ) It is possible to install Android-x86 on a hard drive. Here is HowTo
http://www.android-x86.org/documents/installhowto
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