How to Get Android OS on Your Desktop

1. Download the latest stable release of Android OS (see References). This website holds image files for an Android OS designed to run on netbooks and desktops. Once the Web page loads, scroll down to the “Stable Release” section and download an Android OS image file.

2. Download UNetbootin (see References). This simple application turns any USB into a bootable drive and writes the operating system image file to your memory stick. The result is a highly portable OS that you can take with you from computer to computer.

3. Clear your USB drive. Your memory stick should not have any files on it except for the original installation program that comes on the drive. This is the application that lets your computer know that a USB drive is present. Without it, UNetbootin can’t see the drive.

4. Open UNetbootin. Find the icon in you default folder for downloads. Once the UNetbootin dialog box opens, click the radio button next to “Disk Image” to signify that this version of Android OS comes from an image file, not a physical disk.

5. Click the “...” button on the right side of the UNetbootin dialog box to select the file you want to transfer to your USB. A new window will pop up that shows your folder for recent downloads. Double-click on the image file you downloaded from Step 1.

6. Restart your computer. After UNetbootin finishes installing the Android OS image file to your USB drive, you can reboot immediately or at a later time.

7. Go to the BIOS menu. Once your computer reboots, press the function key that will take you to the BIOS menu. Usually the first or second screen you see when you turn on the computer will have the name of this key. You must press this key before your normal operating system starts booting.

8. Adjust your BIOS settings. Once you get to the BIOS menu, look for an option for advanced BIOS settings and then the option to boot from the USB drive. Selecting this setting causes the computer to skip over the hard drive and instead look first to your USB drive when booting.

9. Save your settings and exit BIOS. Once you exit, the computer automatically restarts.

10. Run Android OS. When your computer restarts, you will see a menu for the 'Live Android OS.' Highlight “Run Android-x86 without installation.” Though it is technically possible to install Android permanently to a netbook or desktop, it is not quite stable. Once you make your choice at this menu, Android should begin to run.