How to setup Android emulator on a PC and install apk's from your PC
Want to have Android running on your PC with internet access, and be able to install your favorite apps?
These instructions are created as a complete guide for non technical PC users through how to setup the latest version of Android on your PC. I found some other guides on the internet to do this but they still left me a bit short. I eventually managed to get Android installed with internet access, however you cannot bind your gmail account, which means I could not use 'Google Play'. So, I then needed to install the apps manually. I tried downloading apk's directly from the web browser, but the download stalls. I could not download attachments to emails or from web sites. So, how can I get the apk's on Android somewhere so that I can manually install them, can't just copy them onto a memory card and stick it in like you can with a phone. I then looked for a ftp client, doesn't come with the standard install. But I did find 'tftp'. Never used it before. It's somewhat less interactive than ftp, however it might be able to get the job done. First to install a tftp server on the host windows machine, there's an open source server available from source forge. A little bit more playing around and I finally managed to use tftp to copy files from the host PC to the Android virtual machine. It's now simple to install apps.
These instructions are created as a complete guide for non technical PC users through how to setup the latest version of Android on your PC. I found some other guides on the internet to do this but they still left me a bit short. I eventually managed to get Android installed with internet access, however you cannot bind your gmail account, which means I could not use 'Google Play'. So, I then needed to install the apps manually. I tried downloading apk's directly from the web browser, but the download stalls. I could not download attachments to emails or from web sites. So, how can I get the apk's on Android somewhere so that I can manually install them, can't just copy them onto a memory card and stick it in like you can with a phone. I then looked for a ftp client, doesn't come with the standard install. But I did find 'tftp'. Never used it before. It's somewhat less interactive than ftp, however it might be able to get the job done. First to install a tftp server on the host windows machine, there's an open source server available from source forge. A little bit more playing around and I finally managed to use tftp to copy files from the host PC to the Android virtual machine. It's now simple to install apps.
1. Install VMWare
Download and install VMWare's vmplayer:https://my.vmware.com/web/vmware/free#desktop_end_user_computing/vmware_player/5_0
This is a free for non commercial use Virtual Machine Player.
2. Install Android Virtual Machine
A lot of sites recommend the eeepc version, but the Lenovo iso works better for me, (android-x86-4.0-RC2-s103t.iso). You may need to try a few to get one that works, I've not yet had one that didn't work.
3. Enable internet on your Android VM
You will notice that initially you cannot browse the web.
Once you have completed this, you will now have internet access, however you may not be able to download files directly from the internet. If this is the case, you can download your apps using windows and transfer them to the virtual machine. The next two steps will guide you through transferring files from windows to your Android virtual machine.
4. Download and install tftp server on your PC
You may notice that even with internet setup, you may not be able to download files. Android has tftp client installed. This will enable you to copy files from your PC to the Android virtual device.
5. Download and copy Android apps (apk's).
The android market (Play Store) won't work, more details on why are on the android-x86.org site.
There are plenty of other app markets on the web where you can download your apps. Once you have downloaded the app (apk) to your PC, you need to copy it from your PC to the virtual machine.
6. Install apps from the downloaded apk file
Download and install VMWare's vmplayer:https://my.vmware.com/web/vmware/free#desktop_end_user_computing/vmware_player/5_0
This is a free for non commercial use Virtual Machine Player.
2. Install Android Virtual Machine
A lot of sites recommend the eeepc version, but the Lenovo iso works better for me, (android-x86-4.0-RC2-s103t.iso). You may need to try a few to get one that works, I've not yet had one that didn't work.
3. Enable internet on your Android VM
You will notice that initially you cannot browse the web.
Once you have completed this, you will now have internet access, however you may not be able to download files directly from the internet. If this is the case, you can download your apps using windows and transfer them to the virtual machine. The next two steps will guide you through transferring files from windows to your Android virtual machine.
4. Download and install tftp server on your PC
You may notice that even with internet setup, you may not be able to download files. Android has tftp client installed. This will enable you to copy files from your PC to the Android virtual device.
5. Download and copy Android apps (apk's).
The android market (Play Store) won't work, more details on why are on the android-x86.org site.
There are plenty of other app markets on the web where you can download your apps. Once you have downloaded the app (apk) to your PC, you need to copy it from your PC to the virtual machine.
6. Install apps from the downloaded apk file