Getting Android running on VirtualBox

Discussions about using Linux guests in VirtualBox.
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jsherk
Posts: 4
Joined: 6. Sep 2011, 03:26
Primary OS: MS Windows XP
VBox Version: OSE Debian
Guest OSses: mac osx

Getting Android running on VirtualBox

Post by jsherk »

I finally managed to get Android 6.0 and Android 4.4 running on VirtualBox 5.1.18 (on OSX macOS Sierra host).

Here is what I had to do to make it work:

Download ISO from here: http://www.android-x86.org/
I used the android-x86-6.0-r2.iso and and android-x86-4.4-r5.iso (non 64 bit versions).

- Open VirtualBox and from the VirtualBox Manager click NEW to create a new virtual machine.
- Give it a NAME and set TYPE=Linux and VERSION=Other Linux (64-bit) and click CONTINUE.
- Adjust the memory size to 2048 MB and click CONTINUE.
- Choose CREATE A VIRTUAL HARD DISK NOW and click CREATE.
- Choose VDI and click CONTINUE.
- Choose FIXED SIZE and click CONTINUE.
- Adjust the disk size to 8 GB and click CREATE.

The new virtual machine should now be created and show up in VirtualBox Manager, but do NOT start it yet.
Just make sure it is selected, and then:
- Choose SETTNGS then SYSTEM then ACCELERATION and set PARAVIRTUALIZATION INTERFACE = KVM.
- Choose SETTINGS then DISPLAY and set VIDEO MEMORY = 128 MB.
- Choose SETTINGS then NETWORK and set ATTACHED TO = NAT then click on ADVANCED and set ADAPTER TYPE = PCnet-FAST III(Am79C973).
- Choose SETTINGS then STORAGE then under CONTROLLER IDE, click on EMPTY and click the minus(-) sign near the bottom to remove it. Confirm removal if necessary.
- From SETTINGS and STORAGE again, click on CONTROLLER IDE itself and to the right of it there should be a round plus(+) sign that says ADDS OPTICAL DRIVE when you hover over it. Click on this plus(+) sign and click CHOOSE DISK and locate and choose the ISO file that downloaded earlier. The ISO file should now appear in the spot where it previously said EMPTY.
- Click OK down in the bottom right corner and this should exit SETTINGS and return the VirtualBox Manager.

You can now select the new virtual machine and click on START...
- Once it starts up you should see a menu and choose you can choose the INSTALLATION - INSTALL TO HARDISK OPTION.
- Using arrow keys, choose CREATE/MODIFY PARTITIONS and then choose OK.
- Do you want to use GPT? NO
- Select NEW then ENTER to create new partition.
- Select PRIMARY(then ENTER.
- Set the SIZE to max then ENTER.
- Select BOOTABLE then ENTER. Make sure you see BOOT under the FLAGS column above.
- Select WRITE then ENTER.
- Confirm by typing the word yes then ENTER.
- Select QUIT then ENTER.
- Using arrow keys, choose SDA1 UNKNOWN VBOX HARDDISK and then choose OK.
- Choose EXT3 if available or EXT4 otherwise then choose OK.
- Are you sure you want to format partition sda1? YES
- Do you want to install boot loader GRUB? YES
- Do you want to install EFI GRUB2? SKIP
- Do you want to install system directory as read/write? YES

It should now start the installation process which will take several seconds.
When it finishes, choose CANCEL then EXIT.
If you don't click EXIT in time, it will reboot, but either way just return to VirtualBox Manager and right-click on the virtual machine and choose CLOSE and POWER OFF.
Do NOT start it yet.
Just make sure it is selected and then:
- choose SETTINGS then STORAGE then under CONTROLLER IDE, click on the ISO you added earlier and click the minus(-) sign near the bottom to remove it. Confirm removal if necessary. - Click OK down in the bottom right corner and this should exit SETTINGS and return the VirtualBox Manager.

You can now select the new virtual machine and click on START again and it should be working now!

You can SKIP the Connect to WIFI section...
It will use the internet on your host as if it was a data connection from the Android virtual device. So do NOT select the option to "download large apps over wifi only" as they will never download because there is no wifi.
It will operate as if it only has a data connection.
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