Windows 7 runs on an Android Wear smartwatch and you'll never guess how long it takes to boot

posted by Luis D. / May 11, 2016, 11:17 AM

Seeing Windows run on an Android Wear smartwatch isn't anything new to us, seasoned mobile technology scribes. Not Windows 7, though. Not anything remotely like this. We thought Windows 95, Windows 98, and an ancient build of Counter-Strike 1.6 is about as far as the trend of running PC software on smart watches can go. But developers are unstoppable these days.

This probably isn't what Microsoft had in mind...

What are the benefit of running a full-blown Windows 7 installation on your wrist-worn? Truth be told, they pretty much begin and end with hacking cred. Not only is the tiny touchscreen incapable of servicing an operating system never meant for it, but the darn thing takes three hours – that's right, the whole 180 minutes – to boot! Needless to say, you have to keep your wearable charged during the process, or else chances are the watch will squeeze the last drop of battery and shut itself down just as you see the Aero desktop reveal itself before you in glorious 280 x 280 resolution.

In case you have absolutely nothing better to do with your life, there's a video tutorial on how to get Windows 7 working on your Android Wear smartwatch with ABD enabled. You can watch it here (link).

via Android Community

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23 Comments

1. adecvat

Posts: 593; Member since: Nov 15, 2013

That is LOL

posted on May 11, 2016, 11:25 AM 0

17. sgodsell

Posts: 6649; Member since: Mar 16, 2013

This is using bochs x86 VM. Remember this watch is using a 32 bit Arm processor emulating x86 instructions. So no wonder why it's this slow. It's a gimmick to say hey it can run Windows 7.

posted on May 11, 2016, 7:26 PM 5

19. joey_sfb

Posts: 6794; Member since: Mar 29, 2012

The reverse is also true when you using Windows version of Android studio to emulated an Android virtual device using ARM provided image. Most ppl would just use an Intel provided virtual device image.

posted on May 11, 2016, 11:12 PM 0

2. TechieXP1969

Posts: 14967; Member since: Sep 25, 2013

What's the point?

posted on May 11, 2016, 11:28 AM 8

3. iWinAndroBerry unregistered

Lol. Such an asinine comment.

posted on May 11, 2016, 11:29 AM 0

4. bambamboogy02

Posts: 827; Member since: Jun 23, 2012

You don't belong here with that comment.

posted on May 11, 2016, 11:42 AM 0

5. QWIKSTRIKE

Posts: 1457; Member since: Mar 09, 2010

I will say it too......... What is the point. A full blown OS on a minimal amount of hardware not intended for is who cares...... And.......... Just my opinion too...

posted on May 11, 2016, 11:49 AM 0

18. sgodsell

Your right, this is pointless. Because no one would want to use a x86 emulator (bochs) on a 32 bit Arm processor. No wonder why it's horrendously slow.

posted on May 11, 2016, 7:35 PM 0

9. elitewolverine

Posts: 5192; Member since: Oct 28, 2013

180mins? dear god, indeed whats the point? Now put win10 iot on there and we can talk

posted on May 11, 2016, 12:39 PM 2

11. xondk

Posts: 1904; Member since: Mar 25, 2014

Mostly for kicks I imagine, to see if it is even possible? Like most hobbies.

posted on May 11, 2016, 1:24 PM 6

6. Podrick

Posts: 1283; Member since: Aug 19, 2015

Surface watch anyone?

posted on May 11, 2016, 11:53 AM 1

8. kiko007

Posts: 7384; Member since: Feb 17, 2016

I'd buy that.

posted on May 11, 2016, 12:23 PM 0

10. MrElectrifyer

Posts: 3960; Member since: Oct 21, 2014

The watch that is also a holographic communication device? Bring it!

posted on May 11, 2016, 12:56 PM 0

7. RohanM

Posts: 141; Member since: Jan 15, 2013

Lol, really what's the point in this time wasting thing. Majority People just dont care for such geeky things, like some of my friends are still using win XP & they dont care abt win 10. haha

posted on May 11, 2016, 11:56 AM 0

12. marorun

Posts: 5029; Member since: Mar 30, 2015

Well as long as they dont need newer games and app thats only work on newer windows they are fine.

posted on May 11, 2016, 2:13 PM 1

22. Plutonium239

Posts: 1112; Member since: Mar 17, 2015

They aren't fine if they use those XP devices on the internet.

posted on May 12, 2016, 4:16 PM 0

13. siddharthayadav202

Posts: 286; Member since: Apr 23, 2016

It aint processing problem but win 7 is not optimised to work on an android watch. What's next? Win 10? or Perhaps Assasin's Creed Syndicate or Crysis 3? God know what these developers will do.

posted on May 11, 2016, 3:40 PM 0

14. Crispin_Gatieza

Posts: 3052; Member since: Jan 23, 2014

Proof of concept, that's all.

posted on May 11, 2016, 6:15 PM 2

15. 7thspaceman

Posts: 1597; Member since: Feb 14, 2011

I guess the point is if it can be done someone will do it to see how far they can get. I do not think it's a practical device but it's interesting never the less