Friday, June 30, 2017

How to install Android on a Chuwi HI13

I succesfully installed Android X86 7.1rc1 on my Chuwi HI13. After all my experiences with ubuntu, it was quite easey.

Here we go:

Step 1: create a bootable live usb-stick

Go to:
http://www.android-x86.org/download
and download the android-x86_64-7.1-rc1.iso

Start up your windows computer, and open rufus.
Write this iso to your usb.
open: efi/boot and delete everything here.
place here the Refind, you can find it at my drive:
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/0B3FtVY6JAiGAV2d0Z1hzMDBQQ0U
Now change the refind.conf file, and put this in it:

menuentry "Android-x86 7.1-rc1 Live" {
    loader /kernel
    options "root=/dev/ram0 androidboot.selinux=permissive buildvariant=userdebug quiet DATA="
    initrd /initrd.img
}

menuentry "Android-x86 7.1-rc1 Installation" {
    loader /kernel
    options "root=/dev/ram0 androidboot.selinux=permissive buildvariant=userdebug DEBUG= INSTALL=1"
    initrd /initrd.img
}


I found these options in /boot/grub.conf

That's it ! Now you have a fully working android live USB-stick.


Stap two: create some place on your  Chuwi's ssd-drive:


Boot your Chuwi HI13 from the ubuntu live stick you created earlier.
open gparted as sudo. 
shrink windows a bit, shrink ubuntu a bit, shrink your swap a bit, and move all partitions, create so space for your android install. here a screen shot of my ssd drive:
Then , very important: create a partition in EXT4 , and give it a name, e.g. ANDROID_INSTALL
don't name it: android-x86, because that's exactly the name of your usb-stick, it will confuse you.
Remind very well the name of your partition: by me it was: mmcblk1p7.
The android installer is not so clear, it can confuse you very easy...


Step 3: install Adroid.

Now boot your Chuwi HI13 with the new-made android live usb-stick.
choose: install.
choose the right partition.
DON'T INSTALL GRUB !!!!!!!!!!
Choose: format disk
installation is just a few seconds. now you boot into android. login to your account, and then reboot.


You can not boot into android. Refind scans automatically all OS'es on the SSD-drive. But it does not find the android install . because it is in a subdirectory.
So i placed it in the root dir, then refind will automatically find it. But you can not boot, you need some special boot-options.
therefore it is better to leave it in the subdir, and make your own refind.conf:

Step 4: Configure Refind for triple-boot

The easyest way is to boot into your kubuntu install.
Open dolphin as admin:
Sudo dolphin
Create:
/boot/EFI/efi/BOOT/refind.conf
Or you can open it directly:
sudo kate /boot/EFI/efi/BOOT/refind.conf

 Then place this into it:

     menuentry "Android 7.1 opstarten" {
    volume Android_X86_64
    loader /android-7.1-rc1/kernel
    initrd /android-7.1-rc1/initrd.img
    options "SRC=/android-7.1-rc1 androidboot.selinux=permissive"
}


Yu have to change the volumename with the name you've chosen.

I tested very much different options. this works...
Sometimes i cannot boot after a restart from android. I have to boot into ubuntu, and then restart to android, then it works. I really don't understand this...

Experiences with Android.


I am very impressed by working with android: touch support is everywhere. Android IS touch !!
speed is great.

Rotating works automatically after a cold boot, but stops working after a while...
Simply download an app from play store for manually rotating. Solved...

Behaviour of power button: is only shutdown and restart. also close lid is not supported. I installed an app with a suspend-button on the desktop. Solved...

But now the bad news: bluetooth is not working good. It works, connects, and disconnects, and connects, and disconnects.
Can anybody post a patch for this ?

This was the main reason I tried an older version of Android-x86. But i can not boot it. I can only boot android-x86-7.1, and phoenix OS the newest version. I have tried everything but could not boot remixos or older versions of android-x86. I don't understand why not...

So i haven't solved the bluetooth-problem. This is very pitty and sad... I use a bluetooth footswitch, a bluetooth keyboard, and a bluetooth speaker everyday...

I want to use my external SD-car of 128 Gb in android. But it is in EXT4. and i can't change it to FAT32, because then user policy in ubuntu is not working. I have read there are possibilities to mount a EXT4-drive in Android. I have to figure it out, let you know...

Joost vdw june 2017





Chuwi Hi13 is dead now.....

This story ends now in a bad way. My chuwi is totally dead now. I sended it back to china. the seller were i bought it, was very helpfull...