Getting the Android operating system.
 

Hi: This properly belongs to androidquestions, but my browser won't let me properly read the post I just sent there (an advertisement appears making the post lie in a thin column by the side of it) and, in like manner, I won't be able to read the answers. Here's the post:

The problem is how to get, via Internet, the Android operating system, version 4.4.2 free of charge. Wikipedia says

Now, if I can get the sources then, in principle, I could compile them. But the probabilities of making an error in the process are high. So,

Question: could I directly get the executable code? And, in the affirmative case, could I get it for free? In case the target machine minds, it is an HP notebook (HP Mini 210-1100).

I think it uses an Atom cpu? In that case you can use Android-x86: http://www.android-x86.org/.

You are very kind. I'll followed the link, which prompted this question: Why port to x86? What's the original target? Wikipedia does not seem to say. I mean what the target microprocessor or microcontroller is.

x86 comprises a range of processors and, AFAIK, Atom belongs to this group of processors, so this Android port should work on your equipment.

You really should tell Jeremy about this.

Is Jeremy in charge of androidquestions.org? By the way: /proc/cpuinfo gives:
As yet, none of my questions has met a reply, I would say. The central point, perhaps, is that _anything_ having to do with the Android OS that I have as far found is extremely difficult, complicated or confused (should I say messy) (the confused one is I, properly speaking, but not without a cause, I think).

That is the main reason why I'm writting here. After having employed several days looking for information for getting that OS, I haven't been able to reach any conclusion. The first place a went to is Wikipedia, and from there to the official Android site, and the confusion began just here. In the page presented me they sell a lot of things, but not a word about the Android OS! Of course, it's very likely I am who is to blame, for not having found the appropriate link within the page or, rather, they just do not sell it or advertize it on line.

Indeed!

If you check the links on the left, you will be able to see "Download" (3rd link from the top). I don't think it's hard to find, so I wonder whether you're simply trolling? (I hope I'm wrong).

@Stf: Android was mainly build for phones, which ussualy have an ARM architecture... Projects like Android-x86 are porting projects for Intel-compatible processos. Project like these in turn can lead to Android based distributions like Remix OS

That is, Android-x86 makes Android able to run on an x-86 (for instance) processor. And using this code, which from the side of programs using the OS is identical with the ARM based OS but from the other side can now be run by the procesor, some people packet a bunch of programs with that code, Remix being a result if I understood correctly.

I was hoping the manufacturer himself had an Android for x86 based machines, and so one of the fundamental questions has been solved (the originator is always the more reliable source to get anything, as a general rule). Thanks for your post.

EDIT: It's a pitty but with such a simple procedure as a page saying "Download now" in big letters and a button to start downloading, my browser doesn't understand the button (or something is wrong in between that server and mine).

Anyways, any way to get 4.4.2 with the same simplicity and reliability as the beta version offered in that page?

If you type "download android 4.4.2" into any search engine, you will get many links for downloading it. I don't have the time nor incentive to actually do the downloading, but it doesn't seem to be that difficult.

That´s precisely the point. What would you do if you would like to download the Linux operanting system. Would you enter the first link you found and download the software you found there? Or would you, instead, proceed to inform yourself the best you can before doing something of that importance?

If I wanted to try to install Android on a device, I would visit the xda-developers forum and find out what is available for the device I wanted to use. You can't just install generic Android on anything, it has to be a specific ROM for a specific device. If you want to install it on x86 hardware, get it from the source. Try http://www.android-x86.org/download, or if you don't trust that, use Google as I suggested, and inform yourself.

Thank you Sgosnell. Very good answer!!

Customers had HP mini for some time, but they mentioned that it is very slow to work with.

You could install slackware to optimize a bit.

Furthermore, for android, you can also check android for eeepc
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yyxqAEvN6Rw

So, tablet devices have the OS in ROM? Also, I don't have an optical drive (I had quite forgotten this). Are there Android distribution able to boot from a pendrive?

The selling point on one of my M&A Companion Atom Netbooks was the Android OS "Kit Kat" I installed on it.

Nobody wanted it with a Gnu/Linux OS or Windows XP that came on it. I got what I wanted for it on craiglist when Android was included in the description.

I installed mine via a pendrive using the dd command to put the iso on usb. It has been awhile since I have done this. So kinda like my anniversary. I forget how I do things if I do not rinse and repeat daily.