This article shows you how to install and run Windows 8 on an Android tablet. It should be noted that replacing the Android operating system of the device with Windows 8 or installing the latter directly in the tablet's memory is not possible. However, you can use a software emulator called Limbo that allows you to run Windows 8 on an Android device. Remember that most Android tablets are not designed to natively run operating systems built for desktop or laptop machines, so your device's performance will be significantly lower than normal while using Windows 8.
Steps
Part 1 of 4: Download Limbo
Step 1. Access the Google Play Store by tapping the icon
It is characterized by a multicolored triangle placed on a white background. Call up the "Play" button logo.
Step 2. Tap the search bar
It should be located at the top of the screen.
Step 3. Enter the keywords limbo pc emulator
This will search for the Limbo emulator app within the Play Store.
Step 4. Tap the Limbo PC Emulator QEMU ARM x86 entry
It should be listed at the top of the drop-down menu that appeared, below the Play Store search bar. You will be redirected to the information page of the Limbo app.
Step 5. Press the Install button
It is green in color and located at the top right of the screen.
Step 6. Press the Accept button when prompted
This way the Limbo emulator app will be downloaded and installed on your tablet.
Step 7. Wait for Limbo to download to your device
It is a small program, so while the download is in progress you will be able to download the Windows 8 installation file.
Part 2 of 4: Download Windows 8
Step 1. Enable downloading of files from unknown sources
In this way you will have the possibility to download and install programs from any website instead of having to use the Google Play Store:
-
Launch the app Settings
Android7settingsapp of Android;
- Tap the item Safety or Lock screen and security;
-
Activate the gray slider "unknown sources"
Android7switchoff ;
- Push the button OK if requested.
Step 2. Open an internet browser
Tap the browser app icon of your choice (for example
Chrome).
Step 3. Go to the website to download the Windows 8 ISO file
Paste the URL https://www.microsoft.com/it-it/software-download/windows8 into the address bar of the tablet browser.
Step 4. Scroll through the list and select an operating system
Tap the "Select Edition" drop-down menu. Choose the option Windows 8.1 and press the blue button Confirmation placed under the menu in question.
Step 5. Select the installation language
Tap the "choose a language" drop-down menu, then select your preferred language and press the button Confirmation.
Step 6. Tap the 32-Bit Download button
It is blue in color and located at the bottom of the page. This way the Windows 8 ISO file will be downloaded to the SD card installed in the tablet.
This file download may take over an hour to complete, so make sure your tablet is connected to a Wi-Fi network and plugged into the mains
Step 7. Wait for the Windows 8 ISO file download to complete
As soon as this step is completed you will be able to add the file to the Limbo library.
Part 3 of 4: Add the Windows 8 ISO File to Limbo
Step 1. Launch the Android "Archive" app or the file manager you usually use
Depending on the manufacturer of the device, the precise name of the app indicated may vary.
If your device doesn't have such an app, you can download one directly from the Google Play Store. The ES File Manager program is one of the most used free options
Step 2. Navigate to the folder where the Windows 8 file is located
Touch the icon of the directory where the file under examination was downloaded. In most cases it will be the folder Download which is located in the "Internal Memory" or "SD Card" directory.
Step 3. Press and hold your finger on the Windows 8 ISO file icon
A context menu will be displayed.
Step 4. Select the Copy option or Move.
One of these two options should be present at the bottom of the screen or within the menu that appears.
Before you can select the item Copy or Move you may need to press the button ⋮ located in one of the upper corners of the tablet screen.
Step 5. Locate the limbo folder
Return to the main screen of the "Archive" app (or the file manager you have chosen to use), select the folder Internal memory, then tap the directory limbo.
- If the folder limbo not present in the internal memory of the device try to select the option SD card. You may need to restart your Android device before the Limbo app folder appears.
- If you have chosen the option Move, you will have the option to choose a destination folder to move the file to.
Step 6. Select the Paste item or Move.
Also in this case the indicated option will be displayed in the appeared menu or at the top / bottom of the screen. In some cases you will need to press the button first ⋮ to make sure that the item in question appears on the screen. The Windows 8 ISO file will be copied or transferred within the folder limbo of the device. When the data transfer is complete, you can start Windows 8.
Part 4 of 4: Run Windows 8
Step 1. Launch the Limbo app
Tap the corresponding icon featuring a small stylized computer.
Step 2. Select the I Acknowledge option when prompted
It is displayed at the bottom of the screen.
Step 3. Press the OK button when prompted
You will be redirected to the main Limbo app screen.
The pop-up window containing the button OK it usually displays a series of notes relating to the version of the program you are using, so you don't need to read the entire content.
Step 4. Open the "Load Machine" drop-down menu by tapping the icon
It is located at the top right of the screen. A list of options will be displayed.
Normally the item is present in this menu It is not.
Step 5. Select the New item
It is one of the options listed in the drop-down menu that appeared. A new dialog will appear.
Step 6. Name the new machine
Type the name of the operating system that will be used by the emulator (in this case for example windows 8).
Step 7. Press the Create button
It is located at the bottom of the screen. The Windows 8 operating system will be used to create the virtual machine.
Step 8. Change the CPU model
Tap the icon next to the "CPU Model" drop-down menu, then select the item qemu32 from the appeared list.
Step 9. Configure RAM memory
Tap the icon next to the "RAM Memory (MB)" drop-down menu and choose one of the available options starting at least from 512 MB of RAM.
If your tablet allows it, assign at least 1 GB of memory to the virtual machine by tapping on the item 1024.
Step 10. Select the "Hard Disk A" checkbox
It is displayed in the "Storage" section of the page. In some cases you may need to scroll down the page to view the item indicated.
Step 11. Tap the icon next to the "Hard Disk A" drop-down menu
It is located on the right side of the "Hard Disk A" entry. A list of options will be displayed.
Step 12. Press the Open button
It is one of the items listed in the drop-down menu that appeared. The list of folders in the device's internal memory will be displayed.
Step 13. Select the Windows 8 ISO file
Scroll down the list and select the folder limbo, then locate the Windows 8 file and tap it to select it. To confirm your action, you may need to tap the icon ✓ or press the button Open or OK.
Step 14. Scroll down the page and select the "Fullscreen" check button
It is located in the "User interface" section of the list. After choosing the latter option, you can finally start the Windows 8 emulation.
Step 15. Scroll up the configuration page and press the "Play" button
It features a triangular icon with the vertex facing right and is positioned at the top of the Limbo window. This will start Windows 8 on your Android tablet.
Remember that the performance of the device will be slower than normal, so the response times will be longer
Advice
- Using Limbo for Android you can install several operating systems, including Windows XP and Windows 10.
- The tablet will most likely take several minutes to boot up when using Windows.
