Have any of you guys with older Toughbooks like CF-28 and older considered this...

How to run Android 4.0 on a laptop...

I don't have an older Toughbook to give it a try, but it could prove interesting.

 

reason I don't have a tablet is that I find the OS/ecosystem to limited to be of real service when you want to produce content. As long as it is for consumption Android/iOS are all right, but it's pretty limited.

 

I knew they working on a version for the PC I guess it is out. I don't have anything on my CF-27 right now, I might pop my 16 Gb SSD back in it and see how it works. Might do the same with my CF-28. Am in the process of moving on to a CF-18 so that would be a good thing to try on them.

Edit: Downloading now, will burn it to a cd and see how it works.

Edit: Won't boot in a CF-27 Mk 4. It has three live cd boot modes and it won't even boot in the debug mode gives the message that there is unsupported hardware which is I suspect the pre-1999 bios. However it may be possible to get it to boot by changing the boot parameters, it is after all a version of Linux. Knoppix 7.0.5 runs very well on this machine and works even better when installed to a hard drive. I will try the CF-28 Mk 3 later and report back.

Edit: The Cf-28 Mk 3 produced the same results, interestingly both computers had a flashing caps lock indicator and a flashing scroll lock indicator when the boot process froze and locked up the computer. Maybe some one with more Linux knowledge than me will chime in on this topic.

 

Flashing scroll/ caps lock = kernel panic.

The new os is having issues with the hardware. I'd start by removing the wireless card.

If this helps I will be amazed, but I hope it does.

G'luck.

heh! Maybe it's not looking for a keyboard and panics when it finds one.:hi2:

 

Tried removing wireless card but no joy still have a kernel panic.

 

My first question. What's an Android?

heh! This is a CF-H1A with a broken digitizer. I used the top file in the list from Azrial's post. Just now installing. As long as it doesn't keep asking for a USB we might be o.k.

 

Android commonly refers to:

Android (robot), designed to resemble a human
Android (operating system), for mobile devices, produced by Google

Android may also refer to:

Android (board game), published by Fantasy Flight Games
Android (drug), brand name for the anabolic steroid methyltestosterone
Android (film), directed by Aaron Lipstadt
"Android" (song), by The Prodigy

See also

The Androids, Australian rock band

 

Ah, Shawn...always a veritable wealth of up to the minute information. :hi2:
Live CD works good....(how would I know?) Install to disk not so good. Next step run a disk of gparted by it and make sure the formatting is correct. Has a built in partitioner but rather clunky.

 

Interesting work here! It would be interesting if someone could get this working well on these older Toughbooks. If I owed one of these older boxes I would love to give it a try! Toughbook hardware seems to remain able long after the OS is no longer viable.

 

What version of android are you trying to load? The newer 4.0 version is running the same kernel as Ubuntu and I think the newer Ubuntu's are having trouble with older hardware.

 

Yes but remember that the kernel is modular and module can be added/removed, if you can install it of couse.

 

What version? The top entry in Azrial's link.
From the grub menu on HDD there are two options test and test with debug.

If test means a flashing Android splash page then it passed the test. In the dock and out.

The search continues.

It's on the hard drive ...now from a Live Linux CD I'll see what is really there.

Jeff...

MK1 CF-29 running VESA version LiveCD getting ready to install to disk. I have some info from Paul on Touchscreen. The PSMouse TS does not work YET. This is the HP tx2500. Most versions see and respond to USB Touch.

Glue's dry back to the sewing machine.

 

Jeff you are the man!!!

 

O.K. re-booted since that one is "to me" just a test.

The ASUS one doesn't see the wireless so I'm downloading a third as we speak. This is the tx2500.iso and they are all 4.0.

Lot more happening with the Asus one. It didna like the fact that I wasn't online. Annnd the keyboard (onscreen) is elusive......but the camera works. Heh!

Fun and games.

This is a CF-H1 ADBBZCM btw....with a broken digitizer. Don't argue ...it's not there. BUT, it's perfect for a very large touchscreen device.

Thanks Azrial. More as it happens.

 

What are the advantages/disadvantages to running Android / Ubuntu / Win7 on a tablet?

 

O.K. On this tablet, the digitizer is broken, it has 20 hours on it and has no USB nor any other connectors. All up/down grades must be done in the dock, with keyboard and USB connectors for optical. The touch screen is right on. Be a shame to waste it.

Or as Vonnie said (41 yr anniversary today) "it's 'cause it's there and I have to try it." How'd she get to know me so well?

....camera works on Android but so far not on Ubuntu...

 

I have been meaning to try the thinkpad version they have. I know it's suppose to be nearly perfect on a X60 tablet, some of that hardware is the same as our older toughbooks.

 

Thinkpad version is waaaaaaaay slow. Again no wireless seen.

Fixing alternator this a.m. (replace)

I'll be back.

 

What model Tough book has an ALTERNATOR? How many HP? I gotta get one.

 

CF-29 MK1 no joy. eeePC presented flashy light kernel panic.

All versions seem to have an issue with "Genuine Intel". Need to do a search for Android with genuine intel. Note in the info @ Azrial's link where it says no ethernet.

Multi-tasking here and in the saddle shop. Anyone need a rubber keyboard?....aargh.

Gotta go sew.

 

Well I did find where these other guys are working on the problem , and they also have no Eithernet.

 

Hey, Bill......do you want a CF-28 to try this on?

I did get the MK CF-29 working a little.

The neat thing about Android is the size of the package.

Ador ???brought up the point that later Linux kernels don't play well with Intel. Do we need to port another older version.

It's a whole new (to me) language...."port" for instance.

The search continues.

Jeff...rambling

 

The last version I tried was 2.1 or 2.2 on a core duo T5 (945 chipset) I think touchscreen worked but couldn't calibrate, I don't remember on the Wi-fi. Most phones are still 2.2 like mine. Still supported, still can get apps from google play store, etc. Any kind of support for the 1.6 back has pretty much stopped as far as I know.

I have been waiting to pick up a new phone. Looking at the Galaxy note 2 (1.6 quad with 2gb ram) the main reason for this is I want to try out "ubuntu for android" when It comes out. As long as you have at least a dual core you can swap between a full Ubuntu desktop and android with out rebooting since they use the same kernel.

I brought out the Viewpad 10 with me to work this time. Got it this time at home. It is pretty much a netbook (atom 1.6, 2gb ram) inside of a 10 inch tablet. It even had the factory restore disks with it. It is a factory dual boot tablet with windows 7 and android. The android from the factory is 1.6, there is a factory upgrade to 2.2. It has 2.2 or 2.3 on it right now. Wireless works, touch, etc. I don't think it's a factory install as it says x86 on the grub boot screen. Play store isn't on there, etc. It's used with unknown past so I have to figure out what was done on the install. Slowly going to get it into shape. And work on the wireless router problem with android devices we have at work. It's a secure network where you have to have a password to get on the router and have your physical mac address programed into the gateway or you can't access the internet. Ipods, iphone, blackberry playbooks, laptops all have no problem with it. Android is very hit and miss. Something about the way it renews the ip address from what I read up on it a few months back. This dual tablet should make it lots easier to trouble shoot what is going on. I need to see If I have enough hard drive space to triple boot it with Ubuntu also.

 

No thanks Jeff, while I am interested in this project, I am still on my mission to get a CF-30 or CF-19. I must put all of my funds and efforts in that direction.

 

Trust me...you want a CF-30MK2 and up :thumbsup: