Saturday, November 26, 2011

[Guide] How to install Android 2.3.5 on the HP TouchPad


Thanks to the fire sale prices, the HP TouchPad has been sold out and many users may be having the device which is pretty efficient at getting general tablet tasks done, but with next to no app support.

The following guide tells you how to install Android 2.3 Gingerbread (Android 2.3.5) onto your TouchPad and it comes courtesy of Tech-Droid Forums.

NOTE- Remember that the TouchPad is not covered by warranty as it is a discontinued device. Please do not update your device unless you are aware of the consequences and the risk of loosing all your data or bricking your device.
  1. Download system.tar.biz and android.uImage
    • Torrent file requires torrent manager like uTorrrent.
  • Download and Install the Palm SDK
  • Instructions for Windows, Mac OS and Linux
  • Head over here and follow the guide to install novaterm.
  • Place the files you downloaded in Step 1 inside the novaterm folder
  • Connect the HP TouchPad to your computer but do not mount it
  • Open terminal/commandprompt and enter the followingnovaterm
  • Enter the following commands on novatermto create the partitions on the TouchPad you require to install Android. lvm.static lvresize -L -1706M /dev/store/media
    lvm.static lvcreate -L 10M -n android-persist store
    lvm.static lvcreate -L 32M -n android-etc store
    lvm.static lvcreate -L 320M -n android-system store
    lvm.static lvcreate -L 320M -n android-cache store
    lvm.static lvcreate -L 1024M -n android-data store
    and

    mkfs.ext3 /dev/store/android-cache
    mkfs.ext3 /dev/store/android-data
    mkfs.ext3 /dev/store/android-etc
    mkfs.ext3 /dev/store/android-persist
    mkfs.ext3 /dev/store/android-system
  • Mount the new partitions in tmp/system using novatermwith the following commands. mkdir /tmp/system/
    mount -o loop -t ext3 /dev/mapper/store-android–system /tmp/system/
  • Open a new terminal/command promptand run the following command. novacom put file://tmp/system/system.tar.bz < system.tar.bz  
  • From novaterm, extract the system.tar.gz file downloaded in Step 1 to/tmp/system
    cd /tmp/system/
    tar -xvf system.tar.bz
    cd system
    mv * ../
    cd ..
    rm -rf system



  • From novaterm, unmount  /tmp/system


cd /
umount /tmp/system



  • Boot into bootie using the following command on novaterm.tellbootie recover
  • Browse to your novaterm folder on your terminal/command prompt and run the following commands.novacom boot mem:// < android.uImage
  • Android is now installed on your TouchPad. To boot into it,

  • Press and hold the Volume Up button until you see a purple line on the right side of the display.
  • You should now boot into Android 2.3.5 Gingerbread on your HP TouchPad.
  • You will have to repeart steps 11 and 12 in order to boot into Android
If you want to remove Android from your HP TouchPad open novaterm and run the following commands:
lvm.static lvremove store/android-persist
lvm.static lvremove store/android-system
lvm.static lvremove store/android-data
lvm.static lvremove store/android-cache
lvm.static lvremove store/android-etc
lvm.static lvresize -L +1706M /dev/store/media

If you prefer you can also follow the video guide to Install Android on your HP TouchPad:


DJRipster Web Developer

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