#
Linux
Android-x86 is just a highly modified Linux. As a result, it has lot of similarities with Linux. So installing Android-x86 from Linux is easier than installing from Windows where only limited number of File-System is supported. Here We will learn How to install Androidx86 from Linux
. As a Linux user, basic command line knowledge is expected. This guide is mainly focused on Ext4
and NTFS
File-System. Both can be done on any.
#
Preparation
To install Android-x86 we are gonna need 4 things.
- The boot-loader or Grub
- The ISO of course
- Basic terminal knowledge
#
Step-1 The Android-x86 Folder
Android-x86 can be booted from root of partition or from any folder or sub-folder. We are gonna install it in a sub-folder Android_x86
in App
folder in our target drive. After creating the folder copy the kernel
,ramdisk.img
,system.img/system.sfs
,initrd.img
,gearlock
(if exists) from the ISO to the folder.
And that's step-1.
#
Step-2 The Data Partition
Since Android-x86 is Linux inside, it natively supports Ext4
. So we can just make a folder named data
in our Android-x86
folder.
#
Note for OtherFS
You need to create data.img
as Android-x86 being a striped down Linux, natively supports only ext4
File-System. So just a folder named data
will not do. To create data.img
# Use dd to create data.img
dd if=/dev/zero of=./data.img bs=8G count=0 skip=1
# Replace 8G with whatever size you want
# Format the file with ext4 filesystem
mkfs.ext4 ./data/img
Warning
Please don't use data.img
of one installation on another. Create a fresh data on every install. Or the system might not boot.
#
Step-3 The Bootloader
Now the last part. Install Grub2 and open nano
or some text-editor as root. Edit the file /boot/grub/grub.cfg
and add these line to the end.
menuentry 'Android-x86' {
set android=/FOLDER_NAME
insmod all_video
search --set=root --file $android/kernel
linux $android/kernel quiet root=/dev/ram0 androidboot.selinux=permissive acpi_sleep=s3_bios,s3_mode SRC=$android
initrd $android/initrd.img
}
At first line, replace Android-x86
with what ever you want to show at Grub menu. And replace FOLDER_NAME with the folder path to your Android-x86 system. For this case it is /App/Android_x86
. Add any kernel configuration you have after SRC=$android
in same line.
Warning
Please be extra careful as failing to write properly might make grub menu not accessible. This will lead to grub shell.
#
Step-4 Another Step?
No this is just some warnings and tips for your better experience.
- There is no such thing as best Android-x86. If the system runs slow, try changing the kernel/mesa or apply some tweaks from
gearlock
orlspeed
,FDE
. - There is no such thing as best kernel/mesa. Each device works with specific kernel. Some devices works on all. And there's no magic word to tell which will work for your device. Just pick 4.19 series of kernel and mesa 18 and try to go up and down.
- If you got NVidia GPU, pray to God that it works or just use emulator if GPU is good enough.
- Install kernel/mesa from
gearlock recovery
.
Happy Gaming ;)