Tablets running the Windows operating system are widely popular due to their low price and good quality. However, Windows does not support many applications that are available on Android. Fortunately, there is one way to reflash Windows to Android.

Installing Android on a computer is quite simple, but flashing a Windows tablet to Android is a different matter. In this case, you need to use a more complex method, so the possible negative consequences are also high, up to and including complete breakdown of the tablet.

We would like to immediately draw your attention to the fact that these instructions are for experienced users. You should not reflash Windows to Android if you recently bought a tablet. We advise you to contact a specialist so that he can help you reflash Windows to Android.

On which tablets can you upgrade Windows to Android?

In this manual we will look at an example of flashing Windows to Android on devices with Intel processor x86, such as Microsoft Surface RT. However, the general approach is the same for all tablets.

I upgraded Windows to Android on my tablet Acer Iconia W700. It used to run Windows 8 and felt more like an ultrabook than a tablet.

Although I used Acer tablet Iconia W700, when I wrote these instructions how to flash windows to android, you can use it for other devices, for example, Samsung XE700T and Surface Microsoft.

Why reflash Windows to Android?

Each user uses a tablet for his own purposes. It is possible that the Windows operating system does not provide the functions that the user needs.

As you know, Android has more apps and games than Windows, so many people want to upgrade Windows to Android.

However, it should be noted that when you flash Windows to Android, you will only be able to install applications that have x86 support. Of course, there are quite a lot of them, but still you will not be able to download absolutely all applications from Google Play Store.

What do you need to flash Windows to Android?

The preparation for this instruction is very serious, especially if you have recently used your Windows tablet.

Let's start with the necessary equipment: USB flash drive with at least 512 MB of free memory; The flash drive must be formatted in file system FAT. In addition, you will need a USB keyboard and a USB hub. I would recommend using a small hub because the powerful USB hubs take a while to initialize, meaning the keyboard won't connect until you press the F12 key.

We will also use software. Download a program that will help you create an Android installation image on a USB flash drive.

After that, go to the site and select the version of Android that you want to install on your Windows tablet. Once the download is complete, make sure you unzip the file.

Preparing a USB flash drive

So, you have downloaded the Android firmware, and now you need to write it to a USB flash drive.

Flash Windows to Android

You can't just install a second one operating system Android to a device that already runs Windows. To do this, you need to make some changes in the system settings.

Different versions Android firmware have different instructions. I had the following instructions:

• Do you want to leave Windows and use two operating systems? – Yes (Y).
• Do you want to change the Windows memory size to free up more memory? Yes (Y).
• Enter new size memory in MB for Windows: selected the default option.
• Install GummiBoot bootloader? Yes (Y).
• Enter boot menu wait time (0 = no menu) (min=0, max=60, enter=5) 15

After you finish setting up, you will see the following message:

“The installation is being configured. Press ENTER to continue."

If everything goes according to plan, then when you reboot the tablet you will see a menu in which you can select Android or Windows.

Run Android on Windows

Of course, as often happens, the first time I tried to launch Android on my Windows tablet, I didn’t succeed.

When I rebooted the tablet, everything happened as usual - the Windows operating system started. There was no sign of a menu to choose between Windows or Android. Then I discovered that if I hold down the F12 key while the tablet is booting up, then Android will start.

Also, you may have noticed that Bluetooth does not work on some Windows devices, but when I launched Android on my tablet, I went to settings, turned on Bluetooth and it worked.

You will also need to make some settings to fully use the Android system, for example, install the GAPPS package, which includes applications such as Google Play and Gmail.

Now you know how to reflash Windows to Android. It is worth noting that this is not possible on all devices. You also need to be very careful when following the instructions so as not to break your tablet.

Flashing Windows Phone on Android, although it is associated with certain difficulties, it is still possible. To do this, you will need a ROM version of Android, a USB cable and Root rights to your device. Windows has also released a special emulator program that can easily open files with the “apk” extension. For fans of the design style of Android devices, there are launcher applications that completely copy the style of the desktop and icons.

So how can you reflash your Windows Phone to a device running Android control? First of all, you should protect yourself by creating a backup copy. If you are not satisfied with the result obtained or would like to return Windows system back, then all you have to do is run from a previously prepared backup file.

Device models under Windows control There are quite a few Phones, but the flashing process is no different. After downloading the file with the desired Android assembly, familiarize yourself with its contents. It must contain:

• Initrd.gz. – used to start the firmware process from an SD card;
• Haret.exe is a special script that is responsible for loading the OS;
• Zimage – Android platform;
• Default.txt – boot process;
• androidinstall.tar – file system;
• androidupdate.tar – update for Android OS.

Firmware process

The file that will be installed into WP memory has the format “nbh”. Its name plays a big role, so it must be filled out correctly. For example, “Phone-Model-340-18-02-15”, where the first word is the device brand, the second is its model, the first number is the screen resolution, and the last three are the release date of this file.

The firmware process itself consists of the following stages:

At this point, the flashing process is considered complete. If the phone gives an error or any services do not work (Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, communication), you can always return to the original version thanks to a previously created backup file.

Sometimes the operating room user Android systems there is a need to install Windows device. The reason may be a program distributed only on Windows, a desire to use Windows in mobile mode or install games on your tablet that are not supported by the regular Android system. One way or another, demolishing one system and installing another is not an easy task and is only suitable for those who are well versed in computers and confident in their abilities.

The essence and features of installing Windows on an Android tablet

Installing Windows on an Android device is justified in the following cases:

• the most compelling reason is your job. For example, you are engaged in website design and you need Adobe application Dreamweaver, which is most convenient to work with on Windows. The specifics of the work also suggest the use of programs with Windows, which have no analogues for Android. And labor productivity suffers: for example, you write articles for your website or to order, you are tired of switching layouts - but there is no Punto Switcher program for Android and is not expected;
• The tablet is quite productive: it makes sense to test Windows and compare which is better. Familiar programs running on a home or office PC (for example, Microsoft Office, which you will never exchange for OpenOffice), you can take with you on any trip;
• The Windows platform has been intensively developed for 3D games since Windows 9x, while iOS and Android came out much later. Controlling the same Grand Turismo, World of Tanks or Warcraft, GTA and Call of Duty with a keyboard and mouse is a pleasure; gamers have become accustomed to this from an early age and now, two decades later, they are happy to “drive” these same series of games and on an Android tablet, without limiting yourself to this operating system.

If you are not an adventure seeker on your own, but, on the contrary, have good reasons to run Windows on a smartphone or tablet, use the tips below.

To use Windows on a tablet, it is not necessary to have a pre-installed version of it.

Video: Android tablet as a replacement for Windows

Windows gadget requirements

From ordinary PCs, Windows 8 and higher requires quite strong characteristics: RAM from 2 GB, a processor no worse than a dual-core one (core frequency no lower than 3 GHz), a video adapter with graphics acceleration DirectX versions no lower than 9.1.x.

And tablets and smartphones with Android, in addition, are subject to additional requirements:

• support for I386/ARM hardware and software architecture;
• processor released by Transmeta, VIA, IDT, AMD. These companies are seriously developing in terms of cross-platform components;
• the presence of a flash drive or at least an SD card of 16 GB with an already recorded version of Windows 8 or 10;
• availability of a USB-hub device with external power supply, keyboard and mouse (program Windows installations controlled with a mouse and keyboard: it is not a fact that the sensor will work immediately).

For example, ZTE smartphone Racer (in Russia it was known as the branded “MTS-916”) had an ARM-11 processor. Considering its low performance (600 MHz on the processor, 256 MB of internal and random access memory, support for SD cards up to 8 GB), it could run Windows 3.1, any version of MS-DOS with Norton Commander or Menuet OS (the latter takes up very little space and is used more for demonstration purposes, has a minimum of primitive preinstalled programs). Peak sales of this smartphone in showrooms cellular communications occurred in 2012

Practical ways to run Windows 8 platform and above on Android devices

There are three ways to run Windows on Android gadgets:

• via emulator;
• installing Windows as a second, non-primary OS;
• replacing Android with Windows.

Not all of them will give results: porting third-party systems is a very troublesome task. Do not forget about the hardware and software design - for example, installing Windows on an iPhone will definitely not work. Unfortunately, in the world of gadgets, situations without options happen.

Windows emulation using Android

In order to run Windows on Android, the QEMU emulator is suitable (it is also used to check installation flash drives - it allows you to check whether the launch will work without restarting Windows on the PC), aDOSbox or Bochs:

• QEMU has been discontinued - it only supports older versions of Windows (9x/2000). This application is also used in Windows on a PC to emulate the operation of an installation flash drive - this allows you to verify its functionality;
• aDOSbox also works with older versions of Windows and MS-DOS, but you definitely won’t have sound and internet;
• Bochs is the most universal, having no “link” to Windows versions. Running Windows 7 and higher on Bochs is almost the same - thanks to the similarities of the latter.

Windows 8 or 10 can also be installed by converting the ISO image to IMG format

Practical work with Windows 8 and higher on the Bochs emulator

To install Windows 8 or 10 on your tablet, do the following:

Remember - only expensive and high-performance tablets will work with Windows 8 and 10 without noticeable stutters.

To run Windows 8 and higher from an ISO image, you may need to convert it to an image in .img format. There are a lot of programs for this:

• MagicISO;
• familiar to many “installers” of UltraISO;
• PowerISO;
• AnyToolISO;
• IsoBuster;
• gBurner;
• MagicDisc, etc.

To convert .iso to .img and run Windows from an emulator, follow these steps:

If you are disappointed with low performance Windows operation from an emulator - it's time to try changing Android to Windows on your gadget.

Video: launching Windows via Bochs using Windows 7 as an example

Installing Windows 10 as a second OS

And yet, emulation cannot be compared with a full-fledged porting of a “foreign” OS; a more complete launch is needed - so that Windows is on the gadget “like at home.” The operation of two or three operating systems on the same mobile device is ensured by Dual-/MultiBoot technology. This is controlling the loading of any of several software kernels - in this case, Windows and Android. The point is that by installing a second OS (Windows), you will not disrupt the operation of the first (Android). But, unlike emulation, this method is more risky - it is necessary to replace the standard Android Recovery with some kind of Dual-Bootloader (MultiLoader) by flashing it. Naturally, a smartphone or tablet must meet the above hardware conditions.

In case of incompatibility or the slightest failure when replacing the Android Recovery console with Bootloader, you can damage the gadget, and only in the Android Shop service center ( Windows Store) they will be able to restore it to you. After all, this is not just downloading the “wrong” one into the device. Android versions, but replacing the kernel preloader, which requires the user to be extremely careful and confident in their knowledge.

Some tablets have already implemented DualBoot technology, Windows, Android (and sometimes Ubuntu) are installed - there is no need to reflash the Bootloader. These gadgets are equipped with an Intel processor. These are, for example, tablets from the brands Onda, Teclast and Cube (there are more than a dozen models on sale today).

If you are confident in your abilities (and your device) and still decide to replace the tablet operating system with Windows, follow the instructions.

But if the UEFI firmware includes booting from external media (flash drive, card reader with SD card, HDD/SSD with external power supply, USB-microSD adapter with card microSD memory), then in Recovery it’s not so simple. Even if you connect external keyboard, using a microUSB/USB-Hub device with external power to simultaneously charge the tablet - it is unlikely that the Recovery console will quickly respond to pressing the Del/F2/F4/F7 key.

After all, Recovery was originally made to reinstall firmware and kernels within Android (replacing the “branded” version from mobile operator, for example, “MTS” or “Beeline”, to a custom one like CyanogenMod), and not Windows. The most painless solution is to buy a tablet with two or three operating systems “on board” (or allowing this), for example, 3Q Qoo, Archos 9 or Chuwi HiBook. They already have the processor needed for this.

To install Windows paired with Android, use a tablet with UEFI firmware, not Recovery. Otherwise, you simply won’t be able to install Windows on top of Android. Barbaric ways to get a job Windows any versions “next to” Android will lead to nothing - the tablet will simply refuse to work until you return Android back. You should also not hope that you can easily replace Android Recovery with the Award/AMI/Phoenix BIOS that is on your old laptop - you cannot do this without professional hackers, and this is a barbaric method.

It doesn’t matter who promised you that Windows will work on all gadgets - mostly such advice is given by amateurs. For it to work, Microsoft, Google and manufacturers of tablets and smartphones must cooperate closely and help each other in everything, and not fight in the market, as they do now, delimiting each other in software. For example, Windows is opposed to Android at the level of compatibility of kernels and other software.

Attempts to “entirely” install Windows on an Android gadget are fragile and isolated attempts by enthusiasts that do not work on every instance and model of gadget.

It is unlikely that they should be taken as an immediate call to action on your part.

Video: how to install Windows on a tablet

Installing Windows 8 or 10 instead of Android

Completely replacing Android with Windows is an even more serious task than simply “placing” them side by side.

At the end of the installation, you will have a working Windows system - as the only one, without choosing from the OS boot list.

If, however, drive D: of the media remains free - this happens when everything personal is copied to an SD card - you can try the opposite task: return Android, but as a second system, not the first. But this is an option for experienced users and programmers.

Replacing Android with Windows is not an easy task. This work is greatly facilitated by manufacturer support at the processor level. If it is not there, it will take a lot of time and the help of specialists to install a correctly working version. With operating systems that are designed for mobile devices you can experiment in the same way as with software

The only obstacle during such experiments can only be the lack of sufficient device resources.

Let's talk about how install windows mobile on android, as well as how to carry out the opposite.

Flash Android to Windows Mobile

To reflash Android to Windows mobile we need:

• Install the Ubuntu.CAB archive on your device. Then click on the application shortcut and use the button on the left to select Windows Mobile.
• Next, download the DL.Desire.v4.32 archive and unpack it into the root directory of the flash drive.
• Download the file datan_256.rar and unpack the system files into a folder with the haret.exe document.
• We launch clrcad.exe, and after a few minutes we launch the file haret.exe. At the same time, the system will boot in auto mode; boot time may vary, since it all depends on the characteristics of your device.
• Next, a window will appear in which you can set the language and after that the Android OS will immediately load. After the first launch, you should perform a restart. All actions must be performed manually using Explorer.

If the bootloader is not installed correctly, you can remove it. You just need to go to the operating system settings and select the “Uninstall programs” option. There you need to find the EBL2.1a._PlusUbuntu utility and remove it, and if you need to remove the Android OS, then in Explorer they simply eliminate the directories that were created by the system in auto mode.

Flash Windows Phone to Android

It's not difficult to reflash a windows phone to android, instructions below current for all ROM releases of Android OS with the file “androidinstall.tar”.

You need:

• Connect the SD card and check if it is formatted in FAT32.
• Then create the “andboot” folder in the root directory.
• Download the desired Android ROM release, unzip the archive, copy “androidinstall.tar” to the “andboot” folder and insert the SD card into the device.
• Download the NBH file and ROM Update Utility, which are needed for all Vogue Android ROMs.
• Put your Vogue into boot mode and then connect the device to your computer.
• Run “ROMUpdateUtility.exe”, click “Next” or “OK”, after which the firmware process will begin. When it ends, the device will reboot, after which you can disconnect it from the PC.

That's all, now you can enjoy Android on your device, and if necessary, you can always return Windows Phone.

Many people are interested in the question of how to change one operating system from one operating system to another on a phone. This is possible using firmware. Consider such popular systems as Android and Windows Phone.

Making Android from Windows Phone

Data-lazy-type="image" data-src="http://androidkak.ru/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/windows-android.jpg" alt="windows-android" width="200" height="119" srcset="" data-srcset="http://androidkak.ru/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/windows-android..jpg 300w" sizes="(max-width: 200px) 100vw, 200px"> !}
First, take care to create a backup copy of your device. This can be done by a function on your phone or a special program (for example, Titanium Bekap). If something goes wrong or you want to return everything back, then such a copy will help you do it without any problems. Also backup copy will help you install on a ready-made flashed smartphone to return all your important documents, photos, images, videos and other files. In order to check whether there are backups in the phone’s memory, you need to go to the phone’s settings, to the “Backups” tab.

There are a lot of phone models running Windows OS, but the firmware principle is the same. Firmware can be installed in two ways: installing Android on a memory card and launching it directly from Windows systems and installing Android into the phone's memory.

The main files that are present in the firmware program:

1. Initrd.gz – file system. Used to run Android from a flash drive.
2. Haret.exe – system file, which provides downloads for the entire Android platform.
3. Zimage is the kernel for Android.
4. Default.txt – boot script.
5. androidinstall.tar – file system.
6. androidupdate.tar – file for updating the Android system.

Launch of a new system with Windows Phone CP

With this method, everything system folders Android are registered in one of the root folders of the card Windows memory Phone. The folder can be anything. Example of a system path: Memory card /OCA. Special attention you should pay attention to the default.txt file and its contents. It contains all the information for the normal launch of the new operating system.

When the Haret.exe file is launched, the smartphone loads the operating system again, thanks to the parameters of the default.txt file. this means that even though the OS is copied to a removable drive, using native Windows is only possible after a backup (restoring the state of the phone to a certain point - when the save was created). Possible problems with this installation format - restart and crash.

Starting a new system from Windows Phone memory

The file that is installed in the smartphone’s memory is .nbh. For our case, it should be called polaimg-panel1-320-17-06-10.nbh, where each part has its own meaning. The first word is the type of smartphone (manufacturer), the second is the model, the first digit is the screen resolution, the last three digits are the release date of this file. We select the firmware version ourselves depending on personal preferences.

1. With help special programs we get root rights to a smartphone. This can be done using programs such as: Framaroot, Root Genius, iRoot, RomasterSy and others.
2. Download the utility necessary for flashing the firmware. It is different for each phone and tablet model. If we take the most common ones, then for HTC these are Custom programs.
3. We format the memory card using a program designed for this - Fat 32. It is better to take the memory card class 10, so that there are no problems in the future. We create a folder on it, which we call andboot. From the firmware, select the file androidinstall.tar and, if available, androidupdate.tar and place them in the folder created on the flash drive.
4. Connect the device to the computer using a USB cable without a memory card! On the computer, create a folder with any name and transfer the Custom program and the .nbh file into it.
5. We launch the program from the Custom RUU folder and follow the instructions that appear on the screen. The last thing you need to do is click the button labeled Update and wait for the progress to finish. Then it restarts and hangs.
6. We insert the previously prepared memory card into the device and simultaneously press the volume “-” button and the power off button (turn it on in soft reboot mode). We wait until the message “Hold” appears on the smartphone screen down Volume Up or DPad center to launch installer". As soon as we see it on the screen, press the center of the joystick button (or the “+” button on the volume). The device will go to the installation menu for the new operating system.
7. In the menu that appears, you need to select Sys on NAND/Data on NAND. Below you need to select Install System and wait until the system is installed. If the androidupdate.tar file was moved to the memory card, then select Install Update and wait to return to the main menu. Next you need to click on Fix Permissions and wait.
8. Next, we reboot the device again in soft reboot mode. After this, the device can boot for quite a long time (from 5 to 20 minutes), everything is ready!