Android X86 Today Official Installation Guide
With Rufus Installer


This is the Official Android X86 Today Installation Guide (PhoenixOS shown) By official I mean it's the only one. This guide is for .iso installation only. I have also provided Rufus installer. I have tested this on Windows 7, 8.1 and 10. Most of the builds you find here are Beta so there might be a few incompatibilities. These will run from a live USB with an option to install to hard disk. The installer supports both UEFI and Legacy boot modes. I will assume for now that you know how to do some basic functions with your machine, such as creating a new partition. In the live session you will only have 1Gb of internal storage. This session does not save it is more to test system compatability...and to see if you like it. I highly recommend a permanent installation to hard disk.
Before we go further it is probably time for the
Standard Disclaimer:
Please don't blame me if you mess up your machineInstallation with Windows machine:
1. Make sure you have secure and or quick boot disabled in Bios.2.Use a minimum 4Gb USB thumb drive 3.0 works best but high quality 2.0 will suffice. Formatted fat32. (Should be default)
3. Unpack AndroidX86(Your Choice).Zip
4. Run Rufus v?.exe (included in guide zip)
5.Select USB in the first entry. If unsure check in File Explorer to make sure drive letter corresponds
6.Click the box that shows FreeDos and change to ISO Image. Select the file picker and navigate to AndroidX86(yourchoice).iso. Rufus will automatically fill in the rest of the settings. Make sure the USB drive is still selected, though. You may change the partition label if you so desire.
7. Select start.
8. Make a bite to eat.
9. When Rufus has finished reboot into your Bios settings.
10. Select USB drive from boot selection, UEFI or Legacy and boot it.
11. You will be greeted by the Rufus grub menu. Select "Live CD"
12. Boot up will take some time , you will hang at "Initializing System" for a while. If longer than say 10 minutes. Reboot and start at step one, using a better quality USB this time;).
14. Have a look around and enjoy. You will only have about 1Gb of internal storage available, also this session will not save, so I generally don't linger too long.
To install to Hard Disk:
This is where it can vary. With every machine being slightly different. There is also the potential to "inadvertently" erase something vital. Make sure you have a "Plan B ".
1. Prepare a partition to the desired size. format to NTFS "I would say Ext4 but Windows disk manager doesn't have that option". You can use 3rd party software such as Partition Wizard, but it is not necessary.
COMMIT THIS DRIVE # TO MEMORY
If you are running Windows only, this will generally be partition 4 or 5 . (Sda4 or Sda5) You can also make a small (300Mb) partition formatted to FAT32 for Grub installation. Windows will NOT let you create a partition of that size natively and you will have to use a third party application.
2. Boot up AndroidX86 USB.
3. Select second option "Installation"
4. Begin Guided installation.
VERY IMPORTANT Select the appropriate partition. Here is where formatting Ext4 would help as it will be the only partition formatted as such, plus if unsure you can select do not format. If you get it wrong it will format and over-write, possibly your C: Partition5. Have it install Grub for Legacy. Grub2 for UEFI. Or neither, if running Linux. I am triple booting with Linux and Windows so Grub2 was already installed.
6. Choose partition for Grub installation.
7. Install.
8. Reboot, be sure to remove USB when safe.
9. If all went well you will be greeted with Grub menu. you will be able to choose either Windows or PhoenixOS. Enjoy.
10. If you wish to triple boot I had success with Grub2win for Windows or Grub-customizer for Linux.
Top Tips:
1.The live session does not save.I hope you Enjoy!