How To Use a Windows XP Emulator On Android With Limbo

Still one of the best versions of Windows out there

Microsoft Windows operating system has been in almost complete dominance of the PC market since it was first released in 1985. We all remember the good releases like Windows 7, while unforgettable releases like Windows Millenium are ones we’d sooner forget.

One of the best Windows releases to date is Windows XP, with a small number of users continuing to use this 20-year-old operating system on their PC. If you want to experiment with XP today, you could use a Windows XP emulator on Android using the Limbo app.

What Is a Windows XP Emulator?

An emulator is software that allows you to run software on a device it wasn’t made for. For instance, you could run anAndroid emulator on Windowsto give you access to Android apps without needing to own an Android device yourself.

Emulators create the right conditions for older software to work. This is why the most common emulators are game emulators, which allow you to play old console games on your PC, where consoles such as the Wii U can be emulated.

You can do the same with Windows XP. A Windows XP emulator is merely aWindows XP virtual machine, letting you run this older system on newer hardware. The portability of mobile devices, such as Android smartphones and tablets, make it an obvious choice for running a portable Windows XP emulator.

You can control this from your Android device or use VNC to turn XP into a remote desktop, letting you connect and control it from another device such as your PC.

Downloading Windows XP ISO

Before you begin installing your Windows XP emulator, you’ll first need the Windows XP installation files in theISOimage file format.

If you have an old Windows XP installation CD to hand, you cancreate an ISO fileusing it. Despite the age of the operating system, you’ll still need a legitimate Windows XP product key to activate Windows.

If you don’t have the old XP installation files to hand, you may be able to locate these online. For instance, you could use the files provided as part of theWindows XP modesoftware to create an ISO file. This is Microsoft’s own XP emulator, originally for Windows 7 PCs, and is a legitimate source for XP installation files.

Once you have the ISO file, you’ll need to move this to your Android device. If your device has a microSD card, remove and connect this to your PC first before transferring the ISO file to it, then return the card to your device.

Otherwise, use a direct PC-to-Android cabled connection to copy the file to your internal storage. You could alsouse Bluetoothto transfer your files, but given the size of the ISO file, this could take some time to complete.

Installing Limbo On Android

Once you have the Windows XP installation files accessible on your Android device in the ISO file format, you’ll need to install theLimbo emulator app. The emulator isn’t available in the Google Play Store, so you’ll need to download and install it manually.

You couldinstall the app from your PCusing ADB or, alternatively, you can access theLimbo download pagefrom your Android device’s browser and download the latest APK release file (theandroid-x86-releaseto emulate PC hardware).

Setting Up Windows XP On Android

You can use Limbo to emulate a PC capable of running Windows XP, using the ISO file to install it on your device.

You’ll need to configure your virtual machine settings to emulate the right PC hardware for XP. Tap each section to set the following configuration.

Accessing The Windows XP Emulator

You can access the Windows XP emulator using the Limbo app as soon as you pressPlay. The settings above are designed to allow you to use XP from your device, using the touch screen to move the mouse cursor. You can also use a Bluetooth mouse and keyboard for easier access.

You’ll need to follow the on-screen instructions when you first launch your virtual machine to install XP to the virtual hard drive file you created. This will follow a typical XP setup, letting you configure your locale and other XP settings. The installation may take some time to complete.

Once XP is installed, you can begin using it how it was designed to be used. You’ll need to remove the XP ISO from theRemovablesection to ensure that the ISO file doesn’t load the installer files, however.

If you want to access XP remotely, you’ll need to change theUser Interfacesetting fromSDLtoVNCto be able to use a VNC client likeVNC Vieweron your PC to remotely access the emulator while it runs on your device.

Leaving Windows XP Behind

If you need to run old software, or you’re just keen to play an old-school PC game, using Limbo to run Windows XP on Android offers a quick and easy way to do it. If you want a newer operating system to try, you couldinstall Linux on Android, either directly or as a virtual machine.

Windows XP is a very old operating system, however. If you know anybody using XP on their own PC, make sure to recommend that theyupgrade to Windows 10 urgentlyto get the newest features and security. If you’re running Windows 10 yourself, don’t forget tokeep Windows updatedfor the same reasons.

Ben Stockton is a freelance technology writer based in the United Kingdom. In a past life, Ben was a college lecturer in the UK, training teens and adults. Since leaving the classroom, Ben has taken his teaching experience and applied it to writing tech how-to guides and tutorials, specialising in Linux, Windows, and Android. He has a degree in History and a postgraduate qualification in Computing.Read Ben’s Full Bio

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