Is it possible to install windows on android. Installing Android on Windows Phone - detailed installation and configuration guide

  • 04.01.2022

Many owners of mobile devices running the operating system Windows Phone dream about the capabilities of Android smartphones. After all, significantly more applications and games are available under the “robot”. Also, on Android you can easily install custom (custom) firmware and, in general, flexibly customize personalization. You can solve the problem by installing special launchers or utilities. In this article you will not find the answer to the question of how to install Android on Windows Phone. We will only look at and show you how you can install applications from the Playmarket.

One of the disadvantages of the Windows Phone operating system and, as a result, Microsoft smartphones is the small number of programs in the company store. As a result of this, users simply do not have the opportunity to play many cool games and use applications available for Android. Especially for devices under Windows control 10 mobile, the APK Deployment utility has been created. By following the instructions below, owners of Nokia Lumia smartphones will be able to easily install their favorite Android application on their mobile phone:

  • Download the APK Deployment program archive.
  • Connect your mobile phone to your computer using a USB cable.
  • Launch developer mode on your phone. To do this, you need to enter the main settings, select Update and Security / For Developers.
  • Extract the downloaded archive with the utility to any convenient directory.
  • Install the IpOverInstaller.msi and vcredist_x86.exe files.
  • Open the executable file APKDeployment.exe, located in the folder with the unpacked program.
  • Enter the PIN code that appears on the screen of your mobile device in the Key to pair field.

Utility for installing Android applications

After that you can try to download any apk file to your computer, preferably from a trusted source, and drag them into the APKDeployment utility window. You need to confirm the installation of the selected utility or game by clicking the Deploy All button. You can install selected programs from the list by selecting them separately using the Deploy button. Now all that remains is to find installed programs on your tablet or phone and try to launch them. If everything is done correctly, then you can now enjoy your favorite Android programs and games on your device.
You can see the utility's capabilities in more detail in the training video below.

Personalization

Especially for those who are not happy with some aspects of the Windows Phone operating system, the developers have released a special launcher. You can download KitKat Launcher to install it on Nokia Lumia in the Microsoft brand store. When launched, the program opens in full screen mode, allowing you to interact with the programs with the basic functions of your mobile device.
The main features of the launcher include the following:

  • A large number of new icons and widgets.
  • Ability to change the design of the desktop and main menu tabs.
  • Quick launch of programs.

It is worth noting that KitKat Launcher is not a full-fledged Android operating system, but is intended only for superficial personalization changes. Assess what it is this utility you can use the screenshots below.

Difficulties in installing Android OS on WP

You can find sites on the Internet that tell you how to flash your smartphone. operating system Android. There are even custom (custom) firmware with the latest OS version for Lumia 520 and 525 smartphones detailed instructions on installation. But it should be noted that performing such an operation is strictly not recommended for several reasons:

  • In smartphones and tablets running Windows Phone OS, the Bootloader is closed.
  • There are no necessary drivers for all modules and sensors (camera, wi-fi, bluetooth, etc.).
  • It is impossible to make a backup and return the Windows Phone OS back.

Also, such a procedure will lead to a violation of the possibility of warranty service and all consequences for it will not lie on the shoulders of the user. Therefore, instead of changing the firmware, it is better to install a special launcher from under the “robot”. See what the latest Android 7.1 nougat OS looks like at Nokia smartphone Lumia 520, you can see it in the video below.

Ok, today let’s do some nonsense, i.e. I wanted to say installing Windows 8, 7, XP, 98, 95 on an Android tablet. Basically, such bad thoughts among users of Android tablets arise purely out of curiosity, but there are some individuals who seriously dream of installing a windowed OS on the tablet, and for them it is necessary, not only that all the functionality of the tablet works, and that this axis replaces or complements the main one, with the ability to switch between them. Yeah, everyone's gone crazy.


Before I run too far, I’ll ask you to slow down your horses so that you don’t read this material in vain. I will help people with a normally functioning brain save a lot of time and a whole bucket of nerves. You can install via emulator- play around and return to Android, or replace Android with Windows forever. The most important thing I want to say is that Windows is not installed “forever” on all Android devices, but only on those whose processor supports running an OS such as Windows. As a rule, these are processors with i386 architecture (Windows 7, 8) or ARM (Windows 8 only). You can find out what processor you have in the instructions, by rummaging through the papers in the box from under the tablet, or look for information on the manufacturer’s website. Here are, for example, a few names of devices that support full installation of Windows:

  • Odeon TPC-10
  • Archos 9
  • ViewSonic ViewPAD
  • Iconia Tab W500
  • 3Q Qoo
  • Download the SDLapp.apk file (about 1.4 MB) from the Internet and install it on your device. This file is a QEMU emulator for Android.
  • Download the SDL.zip archive (contains BIOS firmware, video card drivers and other devices). Unpack the downloaded archive into the root directory of the sdcard (using WinRar, WinZip or a similar program).
  • Download the *.img image of the operating system (Windows 9x) or create it using Nero or a similar program (if a distribution kit is available).
  • Copy the *.img file to the device in the SDL folder.
  • Run the program.

Inexperienced users are recommended to run Windows 95; running Windows 98 on Android devices is fraught with some difficulties. Windows 9x has an on-screen keyboard; right or left mouse clicks are simulated by volume buttons. It can be difficult to double-click; it is much easier to select what you need and press the “Menu” key. The “Menu” key replaces pressing “Enter”, and the “Back” key replaces “Esc”. The cursor stops where you dragged it.

Testing shows that Windows 95 runs noticeably faster on Android than other products in this line. Its speed matches the performance of computers of that time, although many programs do not run with it.

All necessary programs must be placed in the D disk image; this can be done as follows:

  • Download Qemu_HDD.rar (RAR archive containing zero disk images of different sizes).
  • Download the program and install WinImage. Select an image of the required size and use it to place the necessary files into it.
  • Rename the image to D.img and copy it to the device in the SDL folder.
  • In sdl.conf write the following line: /sdl -L . -m 128 -boot c -hda C.img -hdb D.img -usb -usbdevice tablet.
  • Reboot the device, start Windows and run the program from D:.

Flaws:

  • Clicks (taps) do not work clearly.
  • There is no network or internet support.
  • Low screen resolution.
  • There is no sound.
  • The time is displayed incorrectly.
  • Discontinued technical support product.

Advantages:

  • The operating speed is significantly higher than other emulators

BOCHS Emulator

Counts best emulator. Most of the shortcomings of QEMU are absent, there are no problems with the mouse, and operation stability is higher. In principle, it allows you to run Windows of any version, but the speed of its operation makes running powerful operating systems pointless. However, there are lightweight distributions, the use of which allows you to Windows startup XP over a reasonable period of time.

Installation

  • Download and install Bochs2_5_1.apk (about 1.2 MB) and the SDL_for_BOCHS.zip archive (contains BIOS firmware, video card drivers and other devices) on the device.
  • Unpack it onto the device into the SDL folder, having previously created it in the root directory of the sdcard.
  • Download an image (*.img) of the operating system or create it using Nero or a similar program (if a distribution kit is available).
  • Copy the *.img file to the device in the “SDL” folder.
  • Run the program.

The mouse and all keys work similarly to the version with QEMU, with the difference that a double click works clearly.

Games and programs are launched in the manner described for QEMU. There is only one difference: instead of the sdl.conf file, you need to edit bochsrc.txt (located in the SDL folder), in which you need to find the line #ata0-slave: type=disk, path=»d.img and remove the “#”.

There is a second, simpler option for launching applications, without creating an image. BOCHS supports access to the storage of Android devices. To enable this function, you need to write the following line in bochsrc.txt: ata0-slave: type=disk, mode=vvfat, path=/sdcard/HDD, journal=vvfat.redolog, and create the HDD folder in the sdcard root directory.

Flaws:

  • Works slowly.
  • No network support.

Advantages:

  • High stability.
  • Improved mouse emulation.
  • Sound card emulation is supported.
  • Almost all versions of Windows can be run.
  • Technical support for the program is provided.

Emulator aDOSBox

This emulator will be of interest to fans of old DOS games. In addition to launching DOS, which is what it was created for, it also allows you to launch Windows 9x.

Installation:

  • Download aDosBox_v0.2.5.apk (approximately 1.8 MB) and install it on your device.
  • Download archive

Articles and Lifehacks

Android users who are accustomed to a certain operating system are often interested in whether it is possible to install it on their mobile device. For example, there are several ways to install Windows on your phone.

A similar procedure can be carried out both through a desktop PC and on the device itself. How to do this? Our article will be devoted to this issue.

Installation on Android devices

Modern mobile devices on Android based known for their wide range of options related to the installation of new software.

Surprisingly, you can also install Windows on a tablet computer or smartphone running this system - for example, Windows 98, Windows XP or Windows 7.

Will the mobile device work correctly after installation? It is impossible to answer this question unambiguously. Experience shows that most often the device freezes or other problems occur.

You should be aware that not every device is compatible with Windows.

So, for installation we will need our phone, PC or laptop with network access, as well as a Windows OS distribution.

  • First, download everything you need from the Internet (including the distribution kit, which is most often offered free of charge).
  • Next, we search the Internet for an sdl.zip archive with several files and download it. If we cannot find it, we look for these files separately.
  • The archive includes documents with the bin extension (vgabios-cirrus, bios, vgabios), as well as an SDL file in conf format.
  • In addition, you must download a special program to install the operating system on your computer. Android smartphones. It can be easily found on the Internet. It weighs only 1.34 megabytes and is usually designated as an sdlapp file with an apk extension.
  • We transfer all downloaded files to the mobile device. Let's start by going to the above archive and opening the folder called SDL.
  • Instead, you can create a similar folder and copy the necessary files there. As for the sdlapp.apk program, we install it directly on the smartphone.
  • Next, take the c.img file from the Windows OS image and copy it to a folder called SDL. All that remains is to launch sdlapp in apk format, and the installation will begin.
  • Please note that after this only mobile devices that support a certain processor architecture (i386) will be able to work correctly.
  • As a rule, this is typical for those processors that were manufactured by AMD, VIA and other companies.
Helpful tip: It is recommended to download files with the firewall enabled. This will help you avoid downloading malicious software.

Other installation methods

  • You can also install Windows XP using the Active Sync application (it can be downloaded freely from the Microsoft website). If the user is interested in Windows 7 or Vista, the Mobile Device Center program is suitable for him.

    To install the operating system Windows Mobile on the device itself, you should use CAB files.

  • The user will simply need to transfer the archive to his device when connecting to a PC, or using a file manager, and then unzip it.
  • Open the executable file and indicate the location where you want to save the program. After installation, you can find it through the Start menu. As for the installation file, it will be automatically deleted.

The modern user has the opportunity to choose among a fairly wide range of devices of all stripes with different architectures and running on different operating systems. Tablets for the most part run Android OS, but there are many other options, in particular the well-known Windows, which has long migrated from desktop PCs to mobile devices. Fans of “windows” often strive to equip their tablets with the good old operating system, because, whatever one may say, the familiar interface warms the soul, and sometimes is simply necessary for performing certain tasks. All existing operating systems offer users different levels of comfort and functionality. The Windows operating system makes it possible to feel “at home” on portable devices, allowing you to stay within your comfort zone. In addition to differences in the working environment, there is also a difference in hardware requirements; on low-power tablets with a processor of less than two cores, you don’t even have to try to install “windows”.

Method for installing Windows on an Android tablet.

By the way, for those who cannot decide on a choice or do not consider it necessary to choose, tablets have been created with variable launch of one or another system from those installed nearby. It is possible to implement Dual Boot yourself, if the processor architecture and user skills allow. Of course, the best solution is to buy a device with the system you prefer pre-installed, but the reasons why you need to put Windows on an Android tablet vary from person to person. Often the choice is determined by professional activity, because many programs are tailored specifically for Windows. The user may also be interested in games that run on this platform. Well, if the question is just about the interface and familiar navigation, then the solution is much simpler - in the Google Play Market application store you can download a launcher for Android, which will simulate the outer shell of a “windowed” operating system. In this case, the system itself will not be affected, so there is no question of incorrect operation of the device in this case.

Reinstalling the system on a tablet is not as easy as on a desktop PC. In addition, through the efforts of an amateur, as a result of incorrect actions, things can take a completely undesirable turn. There are risks of turning the device into a brick, even if the hardware fits the platform being installed; among other things, you will immediately be deprived of the warranty on the tablet, so unless absolutely necessary, you should not install a full-fledged OS, and ordinary emulation using special software will be suitable for solving many problems.

Unlike an operating system emulator, a full installation of Windows on a tablet is not always possible. It's all about the large requests of the OS, it is more demanding than Android, and you initially need to determine whether the operating system is supported by a specific device. There are requirements for hardware, memory capacity, but what is equally important, in addition to the desire to personally equip the device with another resource management system, the user also needs appropriate skills. Windows installation to a tablet instead of Android is a troublesome task, but in capable hands it is quite feasible. To install the OS correctly, the following conditions are required:

  • CPU with i386/ARM architecture. Processors from manufacturers VIA, AMD, IDT, Transmeta are cross-platform;
  • two, or better yet, a quad-core (with a core frequency of at least 3 GHz) tablet with a RAM capacity of 2 GB or more for Windows 7, 8, 10.

As you understand, to install “windows” you will need to have a high-performance tablet equipped with a powerful processor. Otherwise, even if the system can be installed, the device will freeze. In addition, you need to take care of the latest drivers in advance, which will ensure the correct operation of the operating system.

Required Tools

Having previously decided which system will be installed, and having found out whether there are enough device resources for it, we prepare the appropriate tools to carry out the work. To install Windows 10, 8, 7 on your tablet, you will need the following tools:

  • a bootable flash drive or SD card with a capacity of 8-16 GB (depending on the selected OS version) with an image file or Windows distribution recorded on it, you can also use a disk, burn it or buy a ready-made one;
  • external DVD drive, if a disc will be used as the distribution media;
  • USB hub with three free ports;
  • USB mouse, keyboard.

Burning Windows to a USB flash drive

In addition to the fact that you need to acquire a copy of the OS, its image must not only be downloaded onto the media, but also make the flash drive bootable, because we need to install the system, and not drag data from one place to another. For this purpose, special software is used, for example, Media Creation Tool, WinSetupFromUSB, UltraISO, Rufus and others. Write down bootable USB flash drive, using specialized software, it’s quite easy, the program will create it automatically, you just need to specify the path to the image file and start the process using the existing functionality. Using the simple free Rufus utility as an example, let's look at the procedure for creating a bootable USB flash drive for installing Windows 7 on a tablet:

  • download and install Rufus from the official resource, launch the utility;
  • in the “Device” section the flash drive on which we will record must be indicated;
  • specify the path to the Windows image file;
  • The “Partition scheme” item involves selecting a scheme for the disk where Windows will be installed – MBR (for Legacy/CSM) or GPT (for UEFI). The parameters in the Target system column will change automatically;
  • the remaining values ​​will be entered by default after selecting the distribution;
  • Click the “Start” button, confirm the action and wait for the recording process to complete.

IN new version The Rufus 3 utility does not provide a bootable USB flash drive implementation for XP, so the software is suitable for more recent Windows 7, 8, 10.

Practical Ways to Run Windows Platform on Android Devices

Before taking decisive action, it is important to decide on the purpose of installing “windows” on your tablet and resort to the appropriate method of implementation:

  • if you are accustomed to the Windows interface, but the functionality is not so necessary, install a launcher, which will be a graphical shell for Windows, while all Android functionality will remain in the same place;
  • to be able to play games not intended for Android systems, an emulator that simulates the Windows operating environment is quite suitable;
  • if it is absolutely necessary to use an operating system as a working axis, Windows is installed on top of Android;
  • If you want to use both operating systems on one device, the best solution would be to purchase a multi-platform device that supports different OSes with the ability to switch between them, or a device with processor characteristics that allow you to install different operating systems side by side.

Having decided what Windows is needed for, we choose how it would be more expedient to port the platform to the device. Let's look at how to install Windows on a tablet in different ways according to your goals.

Windows emulation using Android

Installing a window system emulator on an Android tablet is the most safe way implementation of the OS environment. Even an inexperienced user can perform the procedure using the instructions. There are various programs that simulate Windows, such as QEMU or BOCSH. The first one is no longer supported by developers, so it will not be possible to emulate the latest versions of the OS using it. But BOCSH is universal utility and allows you to port any version of Windows as a guest operating system. To carry out the procedure, perform the following steps:

  • download and install BOCSH on your Android device;
  • download the SDL archive for BOCSH, containing the BIOS and drivers and unpack it into the SDL folder, previously created on the device’s memory card;
  • we load the Windows image in IMG format into the same SDL directory (to run eight or a version higher, the image is converted from ISO to IMG, for which there is special software, for example MagicISO, PowerISO, UltraISO and others);
  • launch the BOCSH emulator and enjoy the result.

The BOCSH utility is distinguished by sound support in the guest OS and stability, but the speed when emulating latest versions Windows leaves much to be desired.

Installing Windows as a second OS

So, you have decided to install the Windows 10, 8 or 7 operating system next to Android. The task before you is not an easy one, which can only be done by confident users who are also ready to part with the device if something happens. To place Windows next to Android, tablets with UEFI firmware are used, because Recovery mode does not provide for the installation of operating systems other than native Android. If everything goes well, you will end up with a device with a Dual Boot system, which provides variable launch of different operating systems that are adjacent and do not conflict with each other. The process is only available on devices whose hardware supports the installation of two software kernels. During the work, by flashing the standard Android Recovery, the standard Android Recovery is replaced with Dual Bootloader, but we remember that incompatibility of the device’s hardware with the software or unexpected failures when replacing consoles can lead to unpleasant consequences.

It is not possible to roll back your actions in the procedure for replacing the kernel preloader, therefore, when getting down to business, you need to have certain skills and be as careful as possible. Before this work, it is useful to search the Internet for additional information - perhaps someone has already done something similar with the same gadget and described possible problems and ways to solve them.

In case everything doesn’t go as expected, before installing Windows, you need to make a backup copy of Android by writing it to an external drive using standard tools or using third-party software. Next we perform the following steps:

  • connect the installation flash drive or SD card with Windows OS to the tablet;
  • in the UEFI console, set to boot from the specified media (bootable flash drive);
  • install Windows 10 (8.7) by analogy with a desktop computer;
  • Load the appropriate device drivers (display, Wi-Fi adapter, etc.) for the correct functioning of the system.

Installing Windows instead of Android

If you decide to install Windows 7, 8 or 10, completely replacing the Android system, and the alternative options do not suit you, and you are not afraid of the risks, then we will consider how to do this. We don’t forget about the condition of compatibility with the device’s hardware, as well as user skills. The process involves the following steps:

  1. We connect a bootable USB flash drive, mouse, and keyboard to the tablet via a USB hub.
  2. We restart and go to UEFI mode by pressing the F key
  3. We set it to boot from a bootable USB flash drive and after launching the installer, select the “Full installation” option.
  4. We delete it, create a new one and format partition C in the device’s memory, after which its original size will be visible. It can be divided into sections C and D for convenience, similar to installing an operating system on a computer. Partitioning the disk will remove the shell and kernel of the Android OS, in its place Windows will be installed.
  5. Apply and confirm the selected actions.
  6. We start the Windows installation.

Once the procedure is completed, you will get Windows on your tablet without the alternative of running Android. If there is space left on drive D, you can return Android by installing the OS as a second one.

Despite the apparent simplicity of porting “windows” to an Android tablet and the analogy with the usual installation of Windows on a PC, in reality the process requires great care on the part of the user, starting from finding out the characteristics of the device and preparing to perform actions and ending with the installation itself. Only in the case of skillfully performed manipulations can one count on the success of implementing a “non-native” platform on the device.

Most users of devices running on the Android mobile platform are quite satisfied with them - this system is multifunctional. It has many capabilities and gives the user freedom of action.

For some reasons, users want to reinstall the current operating system or install an alternative one on their phone or tablet, for example, the well-known Windows. Let's figure out how to install Windows on Android?

There are only two main ways to install Windows on an Android tablet or smartphone via an emulator, or to completely reflash the device by installing a new mobile platform on it.

The first case is suitable for combining the capabilities of both systems - the emulator will allow you to switch between them, which is useful if the user is doing all this just to be able to play his favorite game in an environment that is not typical for it.

At the same time, a complete replacement of the operating system is also not always available - the smartphone/tablet may have a processor installed that does not support the operation of Microsoft products.

Most often, processors based on the i386 or ARM architecture are suitable for installing Windows; the first group works with Windows 7 and 8, the second group does not support version 7.

Whether the processor will allow you to replace Android with Windows 8 or 7 can be done by looking at the “passport data” for your device. It is also important to remember that the OS in question requires more memory than Android, so cheap smartphone And it is not recommended to install a tablet on it.

Before installing Windows on Android, you need to determine your priorities, and based on them, choose one of the above methods or use an alternative option:

  1. An emulator program that will allow you to conveniently switch between different operating systems. This method is ideal for those who simply want to be able to use Microsoft applications and other software that can only work in such an environment.
  2. Installing Windows over existing Android. This is a dangerous method, since this procedure can crash the system and force you to format the device’s memory, but a successful installation will completely change the device.
  3. For those who simply like the Windows interface, an alternative launcher is suitable, which can be found in the store Google Play. Instead of the standard shell, he will install the Windows shell, but will not change the basic parameters and properties of the mobile platform.
  4. You can also simply purchase a device like the Ekoore Python S, which comes with three operating systems out of the box. Using this tablet as an example, Ubuntu, Windows and Android systems work independently of each other, you can switch between them without any problems.

There are a lot of OS emulators on the software market and each of them has its own characteristics. To install Windows on an Android tablet, you must first remove the current OS.

On this moment there are two popular mobile versions Windows – 7 and 8, the installation method is approximately identical. However, version 7 is overweight and slow, and version 8 still enjoys full support from the developer, so many people prefer replacing Android with Windows 8.

For the installation process you will need:

  • USB mouse
  • Keyboard
  • External DVD drive, you can use a bootable USB flash drive instead
  • USB hub
  • USB-Ethernet adapter, in case Windows cannot detect the Wi-Fi adapter installed on the device.

The new platform will be installed from bootable media - a disk or flash drive. For this, you can use either the existing distribution kit or an image downloaded from the Internet, which will need to be burned to disk using Nero applications or analogues.

Also using Download Tool 1.0. or other applications for a similar purpose, you can make a bootable USB flash drive. It is important to remember that this will require 8 GB of space.

The installation process is extremely simple:

  1. Data from the tablet is copied to external media in case of failure.
  2. In SETUP of the device, you should select to boot from the specified media. The specifics of this procedure depend on the device model.
  3. Replace Android with Windows 8, installing it in the same way as on a regular computer.
  4. After successful installation, download and install drivers for all devices on board.