Computeractive

Problems Solved
Can I try Android
on my PC?
Q
You
have often suggested trying
operating systems in VirtualBox.
Can I try Android this way?
John Edmonds
A
Yes. Obviously you must fi rst
install VirtualBox, so download
the latest version from www.
virtualbox.org. For the Android operating
system download the Android-x86
project from www.snipca.com/18336 –
just click the green Download button to
download the ISO fi le.
To install Android you need to set up a
new virtual computer and then ‘mount’
the downloaded ISO fi le. In VirtualBox,
click New, type a name for your virtual
Android computer, set Type to Other and
Version to Other/Unknown, then click
Next. Set the memory to at least 512MB
(or more if your system can spare it) then
click Next. Select the ‘Create a virtual
hard drive now’ button then click Create.
Set up Android to run on your PC using VirtualBox
Th e next few boxes that appear do have
options you can change if you want, but if
you’re in a hurry, just click Next (twice)
and then Create.
Now select the new virtual computer
and click Start. In the virtual computer
window, open the Device menu and point
to ‘CD/DVD Devices’ followed by ‘Choose
a virtual CD/DVD disc fi le’ (see
screenshot), then navigate to and select
the ISO fi le downloaded earlier. Open the
Machine menu, select Reset and your
Android setup will begin. If you want to
try it without a full install, just choose
‘Live CD - Run Android x86 without
installation’.
Why won’t Android 6 Marshmallow connect to my PC?
Q
My Nexus 5 has always
worked perfectly when
connected by USB to my
Windows 7 PC, letting me drag and drop
fi les. I found this function very
useful, because it let me use my
smartphone as a portable drive.
However, having upgraded to
Android 6 (Marshmallow), from
Android 5, this function no
longer works. When I connect
my phone now, Windows Explorer
still opens and knows that my
Nexus 5 is connected, but when I
click the Nexus 5 icon I can’t see any
fi les or folders. Do you know why
this is?
Steve Gabriel
A
Yes – Google has changed
the way that the Nexus 5
responds when connected
by cable to a PC. We’re not entirely
sure why it has done this, but it’s
probably for security reasons.
In order for your smartphone’s fi le
system (and therefore your fi les and
folders) to be accessible on your
computer, you must now give
permission via your phone. Th is will
appear as a notification on the lock
screen but, if you have a lot of
notifications there, it’ll be pushed to
Tap the ‘USB for charging’ option on your Nexus 5
phone to drag and drop files from it to your PC
the bottom of the list – and therefore
won’t be visible on screen. Alternatively,
if your Nexus 5 displays its home screen
when you connect, the notification is sent
direct to the notifications panel, so you
won’t see it at all.
From your lock screen, tap the plus ‘+’
symbol to see hidden notifications or,
from the home screen, swipe down from
the top-left. Next, tap ‘USB for charging’
followed by the ‘Transfer fi les (MTP)’
button. If you just want access to the
photo folders, instead choose ‘Transfer
photos (PTP)’ – because this makes it a
bit
•
easier to navigate.
See page 48 for Secret Tips for Mashmallow
NEXT ISSUE
• Is this mystery fi le related to
Windows 10?
• Can I install my Kaspersky
software on my Android tablet?
• How do I read library ebooks on
my Hudl?
...And many more
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66 9 – 22 December 2015