How to flash a Windows smartphone: step-by-step instructions. How to flash a Windows smartphone: step-by-step instructions Step-by-step flashing process

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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

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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, a backup copy will help you install all your important documents, photos, images, videos and other files on a ready-made flashed smartphone. 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 the Windows system, and installing Android into the phone's memory.

The main files that are present in the firmware program:

Initrd.gz – file system. Used to run Android from a flash drive.
Haret.exe is a system file that loads the entire Android platform.
Zimage is the kernel for Android.
Default.txt – boot script.
androidinstall.tar – file system.
androidupdate.tar – file for updating the Android system.

Launch of a new system with Windows Phone CP

With this method, all Android system folders are registered in one of the root folders of the Windows Phone memory card. The folder can be anything. Example of a system path: Memory card /OCA. Particular attention should be paid 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 are restarts and crashes.

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.

Using special programs, we obtain root rights to the smartphone. This can be done using programs such as: Framaroot, Root Genius, iRoot, RomasterSy and others.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 down Volume Up or DPad center to launch installer” appears on the smartphone screen. 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.
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.
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!

Flashing the BIOS is not a labor-intensive process and will take a little time. It is recommended to install a new version and only from the manufacturer if the previous version did not work correctly. Let's look at the question in this article: how to update the BIOS on a Windows 10 computer.

Checking the firmware version

You can check the current firmware version in several ways:

By looking at the information on the motherboard itself or on the remaining packaging. Look for a similar inscription rev 1.0, rev 1.1, rev 1.3.
On the Windows operating system. Open the Run command (Win+R) and enter the command msinfo32
In the “System Information” window that opens, look at the “BIOS Version” element.
In the BIOS menu itself (read the article:) in Main or at the bottom of the screen.

Where can I download?

BIOS installation files can be downloaded from the official websites of motherboard developers or from the websites of laptop manufacturers (for example Dell, Lenovo, HP, Acer) in the “Download” section.

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Update instructions

There are several ways to flash the BIOS.

On Windows

To update, download the required firmware to your computer. Then use the proprietary utility from the motherboard manufacturer:

If the downloaded file is executable (extension .exe), run it and wait for the installation to complete (the manufacturer writes about this in the firmware instructions, for example Dell).

Advice! The update is performed on all versions of Windows 10, 8, 7, XP.

In BIOS

Most modern motherboards support a version upgrade method in the BIOS environment. To install the firmware, download the installation file to a USB flash drive and connect to your PC. Use the utility in motherboards to install the BIOS:

In DOS

To update the BIOS using the DOS environment, you need to create a bootable USB flash drive with DOS and the BIOS itself. In addition, you may need a utility for the update process (Gigabite use DOS Flash utility). The update must contain a file with a .bat extension (Update.bat or Autoexec.bat) to run the firmware in DOS. This method is becoming obsolete and is applied to older models of motherboards.

Do you have any questions regarding your computer's firmware? Ask about it in the comments or use .

Many owners of mobile devices running the Windows Phone operating system dream of the capabilities of Andoid smartphones. After all, significantly more applications and games are available under the “robot”. Also, on Android you can easily install custom (custom) firmware and, in general, flexibly customize personalization. You can solve the problem by installing special launchers or utilities. In this article you will not find the answer to the question of how to install Android on Windows Phone. We will only look at and show you how you can install applications from the Playmarket.

One of the disadvantages of the Windows Phone operating system and, as a result, Microsoft smartphones is the small number of programs in the company store. As a result of this, users simply do not have the opportunity to play many cool games and use applications available for Android. An APK Deployment utility has been created especially for devices running Windows 10 mobile. By following the instructions below, owners of Nokia Lumia smartphones will be able to easily install their favorite Android application on their mobile phone:

Download the APK Deployment program archive.
Connect your mobile phone to your computer using a USB cable.
Launch developer mode on your phone. To do this, you need to enter the main settings, select Update and Security / For Developers.
Extract the downloaded archive with the utility to any convenient directory.
Install the IpOverInstaller.msi and vcredist_x86.exe files.
Open the executable file APKDeployment.exe, located in the folder with the unpacked program.
Enter the PIN code that appears on the screen of your mobile device in the Key to pair field.

Utility for installing Android applications

After that, you can try downloading any apk file to your computer, preferably from a reliable source, and drag them into the APKDeployment utility window. You need to confirm the installation of the selected utility or game by clicking the Deploy All button. You can install selected programs from the list by selecting them separately using the Deploy button. Now all that remains is to find the installed programs on your tablet or phone and try to run them. If everything is done correctly, then you can now enjoy your favorite Android programs and games on your device.
You can see the utility's capabilities in more detail in the training video below.

Personalization

Especially for those who are not happy with some aspects of the Windows Phone operating system, the developers have released a special launcher. You can download KitKat Launcher to install it on Nokia Lumia in the Microsoft brand store. When launched, the program opens in full screen mode, allowing you to interact with the programs with the basic functions of your mobile device.
The main features of the launcher include the following:

A large number of new icons and widgets.
Ability to change the design of the desktop and main menu tabs.
Quick launch of programs.

It is worth noting that KitKat Launcher is not a full-fledged Android operating system, but is intended only for superficial personalization changes. You can evaluate what this utility is like from the screenshots below.

Difficulties in installing Android OS on WP

You can find sites online that tell you how to flash your smartphone on the Android operating system. There are even custom (custom) firmware with the latest OS version for Lumia 520 and 525 smartphones with detailed installation instructions. But it should be noted that performing such an operation is strictly not recommended for several reasons:

In smartphones and tablets running Windows Phone OS, the Bootloader is closed.
There are no necessary drivers for all modules and sensors (camera, wi-fi, bluetooth, etc.).
It is impossible to make a backup and return the Windows Phone OS back.

Also, such a procedure will lead to a violation of the possibility of warranty service and all consequences for it will not lie on the shoulders of the user. Therefore, instead of changing the firmware, it is better to install a special launcher from under the “robot”. You can see what the latest Android 7.1 nougat OS looks like on the Nokia Lumia 520 smartphone in the video below.

Sometimes a user of the Android operating system needs to install Windows on a 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 a 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 the Adobe Dreamweaver application, which is most convenient to work with in 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 that work on your home or office PC (for example, Microsoft Office, which you will never exchange for OpenOffice) can be taken 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 DirectX graphics acceleration version 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;
the presence of a USB-hub device with external power, a keyboard and a mouse (the Windows installation program is controlled using a mouse and keyboard: it is not a fact that the sensor will work immediately).

For example, the ZTE Racer smartphone (in Russia it was known as the branded “MTS-916”) had an ARM-11 processor. Considering its low performance (600 MHz processor, 256 MB of internal and RAM, 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 very little space and is used more for demonstration purposes, has a minimum of primitive pre-installed programs). The peak of sales of this smartphone in mobile phone stores was 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, not tied 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 the low performance of Windows 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 the Android Shop (Windows Store) service center will be able to restore it for you. After all, this is not just downloading the “wrong” version of Android into the device, 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 drive with external power, USB-microSD adapter with microSD memory card), then in Recovery it’s not so simple. Even if you connect an external keyboard using a microUSB/USB-Hub device with external power to simultaneously charge the tablet, the Recovery console is unlikely to promptly respond to pressing the Del/F2/F4/F7 key.

After all, Recovery was originally made to reinstall firmware and kernels within Android (replacing a “branded” version from a cellular operator, for example, MTS or Beeline, with 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 working Windows of any version “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.

Not everyone now remembers that even before the release of the official version of Windows 10, anyone could easily get acquainted with the work of the preliminary version by simply becoming a member of the Windows Insider beta testing program. A similar program is available for those who are eager to get acquainted with the operation of a similar operating system that will function on portable devices. To do this, owners simply need to register in the Mobile Insider Preview. Next, we will talk in more detail about how to install Windows 10 on Android.

As the experience of last year's versions of this software showed, it is possible. The only thing that remains in doubt is whether it is necessary. Let's weigh the pros and cons of this choice.

Advantages and disadvantages

Let's first talk about the disadvantages of the new software, which have been identified somewhat more than the advantages.

poor performance of the update function for older versions of Windows xp;
Difficulties in compatibility of various drivers;
lack of optimized games and applications that would be compatible with this software;
the rather high cost of this operating system;
At the testing stage, the system will collect various information about its owner and send it to the developer.

However, the new version for the Android tablet on Windows is not without a number of advantages, among which are the following:

presence of a “Start” button;
free update for owners of previous versions of the program;
high speed;
built-in voice assistant and antivirus.

Installation process

Next, we will talk in more detail about the process of installing Windows Phone Mobile firmware on Android and will try to better understand how to install Windows on Android. Before starting the installation process, the user needs to make sure that his portable gadget (smartphone or tablet) and personal computer are linked to one single Microsoft account. It is also worth noting that even the developers themselves claim that this operating system can currently only be installed on Lumia smartphones. After this, you can begin unpacking the archive and installation.

The first thing you need to do next is sign up for the Windows Insider Program. You can do this completely free of charge. Just go to the site and accept the terms of the user agreement. Next, select “Install on phone” and wait for the download to begin. By the way, before this you will be warned once again about the danger of such manipulation, leading (in the event of some failure) to the complete loss of functionality of the gadget.

Then you should install a special application for installing Windows 10 Insider on your smartphone or tablet with Android. You can download it from the download page or from the store. After installation, go to the menu and select “Get assemblies”. Here you have to choose one of the methods for obtaining data. Next, confirm the installation of updates. Be careful when updating two operating systems. Think again whether you need to install the launching version 10 or whether you should close this window. Remember that the downloaded program can be launched at any time.

In the gadget settings, you need to find the “Phone update” option and check for their availability. By the way, it would be best to reset your smartphone to factory settings, otherwise a whole range of different problems may arise.
After the device detects the updates, the user will only have to agree to install them. Please note that a tablet with two operating systems will run much slower.

In addition, if you run version 10 with Windows or with two operating systems of another brand, you can simply break the device. Only firmware can save such a gadget. We will talk about how to reflash or flash Windows Phone 8 on Android in one of the following articles.