Have you gotten Genymotion freeware to work on an older AMD CPU on Win10?

[arlen michael holder]

Have you gotten Genymotion freeware to work on an older AMD CPU on Win10?

Genymotion is a _beast_ to install on AMD CPUs, at least compared to the
sheer almost instant simplicity of installing Andyroid!

Yet, Genymotion is, by far, said to be the fastest & best free emulator!
(Certainly it has many emulation choices.)

Below is my ad-hoc log file, where I only ask:
*How did you get Genymotion to run on an older AMD Windows CPU?*


Log file follows...
============================================================================
Genymotion 2.12.2 Personal Edition (free)
Needs VirtualBox version 5.2.6 (you _must_ use that specific VirtualBox!)
============================================================================
You kind of need Genymotion, if you're on older AMD CPUs on Windows,
because it's the only Android 8 (Oreo) emulator (that I know of).

Google emulators won't work on older AMD CPUs on Windows (Linux is fine).
The otherwise wonderful Microsoft freeware emulators stop at Android 6.
<https://forums.xamarin.com/discussion/82871/how-to-add-new-api-levels-to-visual-studio-emulator-for-android>
============================================================================
This says to use Genymotion:
<https://stackoverflow.com/questions/17817118/android-emulator-system-images-and-amd-processor>
============================================================================
It's hard to find the free stuff at this web page:
https://www.genymotion.com/desktop/
============================================================================
But eventually you find it as the "personal edition" in the "fun zone":
https://www.genymotion.com/fun-zone/

You have to create an account though...
https://www.genymotion.com/account/create/

You get two choices:
Download for Windows - 154MB (with VirtualBox)
<https://dl.genymotion.com/releases/genymotion-2.12.2/genymotion-2.12.2-vbox.exe>
Download for Windows - 48MB (without VirtualBox)
<https://dl.genymotion.com/releases/genymotion-2.12.2/genymotion-2.12.2.exe>

Since the FAQ says Genymotion only works with specific versions of
VirtualBox on Windows 10, you probably should get the larger bundle.
============================================================================
System Requirements Microsoft Windows 7, 8/8.1, 10 (32/64 bit)
64 bit CPU, with VT-x or AMD-V capability, enabled in BIOS settings
Recent and dedicated GPU, 400 MB disk space, 2GB RAM
============================================================================
Note that, for the "personal edition", you don't need a license key.
============================================================================
Optionally, download the plugins for Android Studio:
<https://docs.genymotion.com/latest/Content/Home.htm>
<https://www.genymotion.com/plugins/>
<https://dl.genymotion.com/plugins/idea/1.0.7/genymotion-idea-plugin-20151209.jar>

The reason the plugins are optional is that Android Studio can get them:

o Android Studio321: File > Settings
o Select Plugins and click Browse Repositories.
o Right-click on Genymotion and click Download and install.
============================================================================
Genymotion wants to go in C:\Program Files\Genymobile\Genymotion
I put it in C:\app\editor\android\emu\genymotion
Desktop shortcut target:

It also adds VCRedist 2008 (Microsoft Visual C++ 2008),
who knows where it puts it.

It also wants to install Oracle VM VirtualBox 5.2.14
Which wants to go in C:\Program Files\Oracle\VirtualBox\

I put it in C:\app\editor\android\emu\virtualbox\
NOTE: Turn off the auto update in VirtualBox as the versions will change!
============================================================================
Genymotion creates three desktop icons:
Genymotion:
C:\app\editor\android\emu\genymotion\genymotion.exe
Genymotion Shell:
C:\app\editor\android\emu\genymotion\genyshell.exe
Oracle VM VirtualBox:
C:\app\editor\android\emu\virtualbox\VirtualBox.exe
============================================================================
Genymotion 2.12.2 pops up asking you to do one of three things:
Sign in or enter a license (see below ... you have to sign in anyway)
Buy a license
Personal Use
============================================================================
Pressing "Personal Use" pops up a EULA
Then it asks you to add a virtual device.
Then it says you have to sign in to access available virtual devices.
============================================================================
In Settings, go to "Misc" and turn off the default:
[x]Allow Genymotion to collect usage statistics <=== turn this off!
Screen capture folder: C:\Users\<uname> <=== changed to c:\tmp

In Settings is this "ADB" setting:
(o)Use Genymotion Android tools (default)
(_)Use custom Android SDK tools (default)

In Settings there is this "VirtualBox" setting:
C:/Users/<uname>/AppData/Local/Genymobile/Genymotion/deployed/
============================================================================
You'll also see "Welcome to VirtualBox".
Why on earth does only Genymotion need VirtualBox and nobody else does?
What is VirtualBox needed for? (I have VirtualBox for other things.)
============================================================================
"Genymotion for personal use"
To add an emulator, click "Add" (plus sign), where I chose:
Samsung Galaxy S9 - 8.0 - API 26 - 1440x2960

The GREAT NEWS is that there are PLENTY of Android emulation images!
No wonder people recommend Genymotion!
============================================================================
Hit next when it asks "Create a New Virtual Device"
It then says: Retrieve and deploy the new virtual device: 350MB
Wait until you see "The virtual device has been created successfully."
Then press the "Start" button.
It will say "initializing virtual device".

Drat!
Error: Unable to start the virtual device.
The specified virtual device was not found in VirtualBox list.
============================================================================
Now what?
============================================================================
OK. I figured out the next step (I think).
============================================================================
In Android Studio 3.2.1, toolbars are off by default, so turn them on.
AndroidStudio321:View > Toolbar (make sure it's checked)
AndroidStudio321:View > Tool Buttons (make sure it's checked)
(I don't know if you need both yet.)

Then you'll "see" the "Genymotion Device Manager" icon in the tool buttons!
It will be the _last_ button (to the right)!

When you click it, it asks:
Other Settings > Genymotion
Select the path to the Genymotion folder:
Normally that will be: C:\Program Files\Genymobile\Genymotion
But for me, that will be: C:\app\editor\android\emu\genymotion
Click OK.
============================================================================
Now open up that same Genymotion Device Manager button again!
Up pops a window saying "List of available Genymotion virtual devices".
Of course, it's empty (it would be too easy to have a virtual device).
So hit the "New" button (there's nothing else you _can_ do).
Of course, nothing happens.
Hit "Refresh", but nothing happens either.
============================================================================
Let's kill everything, reboot, and restart things. Jesus.
============================================================================
I start the Genymotion Shell, but it want's a virtual device first.
Heck, so do I.
============================================================================
I hit the Genymotion shortcut, and it doesn't have the device I just added.
So I add it again.
It says "the virtual device has been created successfully"
(but we know that's a lie)
I hit "Finish" anyway (nothing else I _can_ do).
Genymotion shows a virtual device just like it did before, of:
Samsung Galaxy S9 - API 26 - 1440x2960
now what?
I hit "Start".
But it says "Unable to start the virtual device".
VirtualBox cannot start the virtual device.
*Your CPU is incompatible with virtualization technologies.*
Drat!
============================================================================
For more information, please refer to:
http://www.genymotion.com/faq/logs
Which says log files are stored in:
%LocalAppData%\Genymobile\Genymotion\deployed\<virtual device name>\
Where my "virtual device name" is...
"Samsung Galaxy S9 - 8.0 - API 26 - 1440x2960"
Which has, inside of it, a file named:
genymotion-player.log
Which contains...
[warning] Activation failed.
Error: 10 - "HTTP code 403:
Activation failed: license have never been registered
Error downloading https://cloud.genymotion.com/licenses/activation/ -
server replied: FORBIDDEN."

and
[Genymotion Player:24196] [critical]
*Unable to start virtual device, CPU incompatible*
============================================================================
Well, which is it?
a. License?
b. CPU?

It's not license, most likely, because you don't need a license.
So it must be CPU.

If it's CPU, is it just the Hyper-V switch or not?
Who knows.
Certainly not me.
============================================================================
It's likely not the license because:
https://www.genymotion.com/help/desktop/faq/#category-licenseaccount
"You do not need a license to run Genymotion for personal use."
============================================================================
OK. I found out more about virtualbox:
https://www.genymotion.com/help/desktop/faq/#category-virtualbox

Why does an error message state that VirtualBox is not installed whereas I
have successfully downloaded and installed Genymotion?

Genymotion operation relies on the use of Oracle VM VirtualBox in the
background. This software enables virtualizing Android operating systems.
If you already have Oracle VM VirtualBox, make sure that you installed
version 5.2.6 or above and that it runs with no errors. If you do not have
Oracle VM VirtualBox installed on your computer, please download the latest
version from https://www.virtualbox.org/wiki/Downloads.

On Windows: the Oracle VM VirtualBox installer 5.2.6 is packaged within the
ready-to-run Genymotion installer. Make sure you have downloaded and
installed this package.
If VirtualBox is correctly installed and works fine, please refer to Why
doesn¢t Genymotion run on Windows 10?
============================================================================
Why doesn't Genymotion run on Windows 10?

*To date, VirtualBox is not yet fully compatible with Windows 10.*

As Genymotion relies on the use of VirtualBox in the background, some
problems may arise. If you have any troubles running Genymotion on Windows
10, we first recommend that you put VirtualBox in a clean state. To do so:

Uninstall VirtualBox.
Reboot your computer if prompted by the installer.
Install the version of VirtualBox recommended for Windows 10
Reboot your computer if prompted by the installer.
Open VirtualBox and go to File > Preferences > Network.
Remove all existing host-only networks by clicking Description 1.
Start Genymotion a first time.
In the event of a failure, start Genymotion a second time.
If Genymotion still doesn¢t run, you can manually configure a host-only
network:

Open VirtualBox and go to File > Preferences > Network.
Add a new host-only network by clicking Description 1.
Edit its configuration by clicking Description 1.
In the Adapter tab, set the following values:
IPv4 Address: 192.168.56.1
IPv4 Network Mask: 255.255.255.0
In the DHCP Server tab, set the following values:
Check Enable Server.
Server Address: 192.168.56.100
Server Mask: 255.255.255.0
Lower Address Bound: 192.168.56.101
Upper Address Bound: 192.168.56.254
============================================================================
When I start VirtualBox, it has the Samsung Galaxy S9 as a guest host.
But it won't start, as it gives the error:
Failed to open a session for the virtual machine:
Samsung Galaxy S9 - 8.0 - API 26 - 1440x2960
AMD-V is not available (VERR_SVM_NO_SVM).
Result Code:
E_FAIL (0x80004005)
Component:
ConsoleWrap
Interface:
IConsole
============================================================================
Maybe I can turn off Hyper-V????
https://www.poweronplatforms.com/enable-disable-hyper-v-windows-10-8/

Start > Run > control
Programs and Features > Turn Windows features on or off >
Change from:
[x]Hyper-V
[x]Hyper-V Management Tools
[x]Hyper-V Platform
Change to:
[_]Hyper-V
[_]Hyper-V Management Tools
[_]Hyper-V Platform

The question is what now to do with?
[x]Windows Hypervisor Platform

You need to reboot after changing this, I think.
============================================================================
I reboot and at least VirtualBox gives different errors now! :)
In VirtualBox, I can (sort of) start the S9 (a running log ensues).

Likewise, I get a different message in Genymotion when I start the S9.
"Unable to start the virtual device"
The virtual device got no IP address.
The VirtualBox DHCP server has not assigned an iP address to the
virtual device. To find a solution, please start VirtualBox.
For more information, please refer to:
http://www.genymotion.com/faq/dhcp
============================================================================
That seems to indicate I need to start VirtualBox and mess with DHCP.
VirtualBox File > Preferences > Network > Hosts-only Network
Make sure the adapter is in the same network
192.168.56.0/24

It's REALLY tricky to get that "hosts-only network" menu.

I'm not really sure WHAT finally got it, but I think you have to
rightclick on the actual blue "running adapter" because the
VirtualBox main menu doesn't show it but you can get it from
right clicking on the big blue S9 window. (Go figure)

Even so, there's no network IP address ANYWHERE ...
so the instructions "look" good but fail miserably.
===========================================================================
Have you gotten Genymotion freeware to work on an older AMD CPU on Win10?
Have you gotten Genymotion to work on _any_ Windows machine?
How?

[arlen michael holder]

On Mon, 19 Nov 2018 05:15:57 -0000 (UTC), arlen michael holder wrote:

> *How did you get Genymotion to run on an older AMD Windows CPU?*

****************************************************************************
How to get Genymotion Android emulation to work on an AMD Win10Pro desktop

Everyone says Genymotion is the best, by far, of all Android emulators!
(It has very many emulators to choose from, of which I tested only two.)
o (Samsung Galaxy S9 - 8.0 - API 26 - 1440x2960) FAILS EVERY TIME!
o (HTC One X - 4.11 - API 16 - 720x1280) WORKS ON THE FIRST TRY!
****************************************************************************
o Read the fine manual.
<https://docs.genymotion.com/latest/Content/01_Get_Started/Installation.htm>
o Create a Genymotion account and log in before obtaining the software:
<https://www.genymotion.com/account/login/>
o Obtain the software (with VirtualBox):
<https://dl.genymotion.com/releases/genymotion-2.12.2/genymotion-2.12.2-vbox.exe>
o It wants to install into C:\Program Files\Genymobile\Genymotion
o I put it in C:\app\editor\android\emu\genymotion
o It also adds VCRedist 2008 (Microsoft Visual C++ 2008), who knows where.
o It also wants to install Oracle VM VirtualBox 5.2.14
o Oracle VirtualBox wants to go in C:\Program Files\Oracle\VirtualBox\
o I put it in C:\app\editor\android\emu\virtualbox\
o Let the installer start both VirtualBox & Genymotion by default.
o It first complains about Hyper-V so I set it up and reboot.
Start > Run > control > OK
ControlPanel:Programs > Programs & features > Turn Windows features on or off

[x]Hyper-V
[x]Hyper-V Management Tools

[x]Hyper-V Gui Management Tools
[x]Hyper-V Module for Windows PowerShell
[x]Hyper-V Platform
[x]Hyper-V Hypervisor
[x]Hyper-V Services
[x]Windows Hypervisor Platform
<http://www.bild.me/bild.php?file=1580602genymotion01.jpg>
o The Genymotion+VirtualBox installer creates three desktop icons:
a. Genymotion:

C:\app\editor\android\emu\genymotion\genymotion.exe

b. Genymotion Shell:

C:\app\editor\android\emu\genymotion\genyshell.exe

c. Oracle VM VirtualBox:

C:\app\editor\android\emu\virtualbox\VirtualBox.exe

o BTW, as soon as you can, turn off VirtualBox auto update!
VirtualBox:File > Preferences > Update > [x]Check for Updates
(This prevents VirtualBox from changing the version for Genymotion.)
o Genymotion 2.12.2 pops up asking you to do one of three things:
a. Sign in or enter a license (see below ... you have to sign in anyway)
b. Buy a license
c. Personal Use (for this, you will need to sign in)
o Pressing "Personal Use" pops up a EULA
o Then it asks you to add a virtual device.
o I add the "Samsung Galaxy S9 - 8.0 - API 26 - 1440x2960"
(In hindsight, that was a VERY BAD thing to do; but who knew?)
o Then it says you have to sign in to access available virtual devices.
(This is why you don't really have a choice in the prior steps.)
I sign in, and then I can download the 350MB S9 virtual device.
Now I have the Samsung Galaxy S9 installed, running Android 8.0.
HINDSIGHT: It will never work; use the HTC One, Android 4.x instead!
o In Genymotion Settings, go to "Misc" and turn off the default:

[x]Allow Genymotion to collect usage statistics <=== turn this off!

Screen capture folder: C:\Users\(you) <=== change to c:\tmp
o In Genymotion Settings is this "ADB" setting:

(o)Use Genymotion Android tools (default)
(_)Use custom Android SDK tools (default)

o In Settings there is this "VirtualBox" setting:
C:/Users/(you)/AppData/Local/Genymobile/Genymotion/deployed/
o Notice that VirtualBox has the Samsung Galaxy in "powered Off" mode
o I press the "Start" button in Genymotion, but that results in the error:
"Initializing virtual device"... "Starting virtual device"...

Unable to start the virtual device.

The virtual device got no IP address.

The VirtualBox DHCP server has not assigned an IP address to the virtual

device. To find a solution, please start VirtualBox.

For more information, please refer to: www.genymotion.com/faq/dhcp
(Which you can read until the end of time, but it won't help you.)
o I update Nvidia GeForce 210 drivers from version 6/29/2015 to 11/14/2016
Update drivers:
<http://www.bild.me/bild.php?file=7619860genymotion02.jpg>
<http://www.bild.me/bild.php?file=4767529genymotion03.jpg>
<http://www.bild.me/bild.php?file=4703047genymotion04.jpg>
o Yet, I get that same error no matter what I try with Genymotion:

"Unable to start the virtual device"
The virtual device got no IP address.
The VirtualBox DHCP server has not assigned an iP address to the
virtual device. To find a solution, please start VirtualBox.
For more information, please refer to:
http://www.genymotion.com/faq/dhcp

<http://www.bild.me/bild.php?file=6558591genymotion05.jpg>
o I get the same error with the VirtualBox guest OS powered on:
<http://www.bild.me/bild.php?file=2514760genymotion06.jpg>
o Wiping out the host adapter doesn't change things:
VirtualBox:File > Host Network Manager (delete)
<http://www.bild.me/bild.php?file=5779781genymotion07.jpg>
<http://www.bild.me/bild.php?file=9460507genymotion08.jpg>
o Changing the VirtualBox "NAT Network" doesn't seem to help:
VirtualBox:File > Preferences > Network > NAT Network
CHANGE FROM: Network CIDR: 10.0.2.0/24
<http://www.bild.me/bild.php?file=8055787genymotion09.jpg>
CHANGE TO: Network CIDR: 192.168.56.0/24
<http://www.bild.me/bild.php?file=8086168genymotion10.jpg>
o There's a cryptic message about "Hardware OpenGL is disabled"
in VirtualBox though (which may or may not be pertinent).
<http://www.bild.me/bild.php?file=2664502genymotion11.jpg>
o Maybe I can configure the "VirtualBox Host-Only Ethernet Adapter" manually?
Name: VirtualBox Host-Only Ethernet Adapter
IPv4 Address/Mask: 192.168.51.254
IPv6 Address/Mask: <blank>
DHCP Server: [x]Enable
Adapter
(_)Configure Adapter Automatically
(o)Configure Adapter Manually
IPv4 Address: 192.168.51.2
IPv4 Network Mask: 255.255.255.0
IPv6 Address: abcd::efgh:1234:5678:9abc
IPv6 Prefix Length: 64
DHCP Server:
[x]Enable Server
Server Address: 192.168.51.100
Server Mask: 255.255.255.0
Lower Address Bound: 192.168.51.101
Upper Address Bound: 192.168.51.254
o And yet, if I use a _different_ emulator, it works just fine!
Start Genymotion
Add a _different_ emulation (HTC One X - 4.11 - API 16 - 720x1280)
Click the Genymotion "Start" button
Where the device comes up with no problems!
And, it works perfectly, automatically, inside of Android Studio!
<http://www.bild.me/bild.php?file=2987223genymotion12.jpg>
<http://www.bild.me/bild.php?file=1319205genymotion13.jpg>
o I re-install the Samsung Galaxy S9 where the S9 fails as before!
<http://www.bild.me/bild.php?file=5476147genymotion14.jpg>
============================================================================
In 20/20 hindsight, there's "something" wrong when I run Genymotion S9
emulation, but the HTC One emulation works perfectly!
============================================================================

[arlen michael holder]

On Thu, 22 Nov 2018 04:45:25 -0000 (UTC), arlen michael holder wrote:

> In 20/20 hindsight, there's "something" wrong when I run Genymotion S9
> emulation, but the HTC One emulation works perfectly!

Sigh. 20/20 hindsight.
<http://www.bild.me/bild.php?file=9646339genymotion15.jpg>

The Genymotion emulator is the cat's meow, when it works.
It's BEAUTIFULLY integrated into Android Studio, for example.
And it's FAST! (real fast!)

So far, I have the following tests done (in this order).
<http://www.bild.me/bild.php?file=8909620genymotion16.jpg>

Works (using Genymotion 2.12.2 with VirtualBox 5.2.14 on Win10 1803):
o API 16, Jelly Bean: HTC One X - 4.11 - API 16 - 720x1280
o API 18, Jelly Bean: Samsung Galaxy S3 - 4.3 - API 18 - 729x1280
o API 19, KitKat: Motorola Moto X - 4.4.4 - API 19 - 720x1280
o API 21, Lollipop: Google Nexus 4 - 5.0.0 - API 21 - 768x1280
o API 23, Marshmallow: Samsung Galaxy S7 - 6.0.0 - API 23 - 1440x2560
o API 24, Nougat: Samsung Galaxy S8 - 7.0.0 - API 24 - 1440x2960
o API 25, Nougat: Google Nexus 6 - 7.1.0 - API 25 - 1440x2560

Fails (using Genymotion 2.12.2 with VirtualBox 5.2.14 on Win10 1803):
o API 26, Oreo: Samsung Galaxy S9 - 8.0 - API 26 - 1440x2960
o API 28, Pie: Google Pixel XL - 9.0 (preview) - API 28 - 1440x2560

The bad news is that I _started_ with the S9, where I spent hours trying to
get it to work before I decided to try the others. :(

The error message is most likely a red herring.
If I knew what I know now, I would have just used one of the others.

The great news is that there are a LOT of Genymotion emulators,
so, at some point, I hope to report that I have Android 8 emulated.

[arlen holder]

On Thu, 22 Nov 2018 07:13:19 -0000 (UTC), arlen michael holder wrote:

> Works (using Genymotion 2.12.2 with VirtualBox 5.2.14 on Win10 1803):
> o API 16, Jelly Bean: HTC One X - 4.11 - API 16 - 720x1280
> o API 18, Jelly Bean: Samsung Galaxy S3 - 4.3 - API 18 - 729x1280
> o API 19, KitKat: Motorola Moto X - 4.4.4 - API 19 - 720x1280
> o API 21, Lollipop: Google Nexus 4 - 5.0.0 - API 21 - 768x1280
> o API 23, Marshmallow: Samsung Galaxy S7 - 6.0.0 - API 23 - 1440x2560
> o API 24, Nougat: Samsung Galaxy S8 - 7.0.0 - API 24 - 1440x2960
> o API 25, Nougat: Google Nexus 6 - 7.1.0 - API 25 - 1440x2560
>
> Fails (using Genymotion 2.12.2 with VirtualBox 5.2.14 on Win10 1803):
> o API 26, Oreo: Samsung Galaxy S9 - 8.0 - API 26 - 1440x2960
> o API 28, Pie: Google Pixel XL - 9.0 (preview) - API 28 - 1440x2560

Update.

I've tested the following half-dozen emulators...
C:\app\editor\android\emu\{google,arm,ms,geny,andy,blue}

On the following apps from a variety of Android tutorials on the net...
<http://www.bild.me/bild.php?file=6380186apps15.jpg>

Where source code for the apps below are on a related Android thread:
app01 = Google "hello world" standard 1st (text-based) noob tutorial
app02 = Google "enter text, press button" standard 2nd noob tutorial
app03 = Butterfield simple adder of two integers via keyboard input
app04 = Port of app03 using manual Windows & AS commands (no small feat)
app05 = Butterfield opening an inside & outside activity (a web browser)
app06 = Butterfield simple grocery list with 2nd-level images (non SQL)
app07 = Treehouse throw-a-die randomizer using a variable seed
app08 = Customization of app06, adding items from my local grocery store
app09 = Port of the randomizer app07 from Kotlin to Java using AS commands
app10 = Time-limited simple timer with Start, Pause, & Reset buttons
app11 = Countdown timer with start stop & reset (outputs text when done)
app12 = app11 + bug fix solving configuration changes (rotation) resets
app13 = app12 + bug fix enabling the time to resume when restarted later
app14 = app13 + enhancement adding a user-settable countdown start time
app15 = Write to & read from internal file storage using low-level commands
app16 = Display simple notifications by creating a notification channel
app17 = app16 + Add action buttons (to define an action) & change colors
app18 = app17 + Add big-text & inbox style notifications & add an image
app19 = app18 + Add big picture & media style pre-defined notifications
app20 = app19 + Add messaging style notifications & add direct-reply actions
app21 = app20 + Add a progress-bar notification, & update it periodically
app22 = app21 + Group multiple notifications together even on lower APIs
app23 = app22 + Add the ability to group notification channels together
app24 = app23 + Add ability to change notification channel default settings
app25 = app24 + Add the ability to delete notification channels
<https://groups.google.com/forum/#!topic/comp.mobile.android/aW64zYeBtF0%5B1-25%5D>

Here's a quick snippet of my analysis of how they work with Android Studio:
o Google (Android ?, fails on older AMD CPUs but is the default for AS)
o Arm (Android ?, nobody recommends these as they are too slow to be usable)
o Microsoft (Android 6, works great on older AMD CPUs, integrates into AS)
o Genymotion (Android 7.1, best overall for speed & CPU & AS compatibility)
o Andyroid (Android 7.1.2, simple setup where AS instantly recognized it)
o Bluestacks (Android 7.1.1, simple setup & runs fast, but AS didn't see it)

In the end, I had so many emulators competing with each other that I wiped
them all out and just installed the Genymotion emulator, which is
recommended by all as being the most compatible, and the fastest.
o Genymotion has a toolbar button integrated into Android Studio
o Genymotion has free technical support by email
o Genymotion has all the emulators you could want to have
o And it's fast

But best of all - it works just fine with my older AMD CPU
<https://comp.mobile.android.narkive.com/0dR8Lodl/report-my-first-hello-world-using-android-studio-freeware-on-windows-worked-just-fine-in-about-an>

The only Genymotion drawback I see is that I can't get anything higher than
API 25 to work in Genymotion on my older AMD CPU (i.e., API 26 and above
fails, i.e., Oreo & Pie), but for now, that's good enough since all the
emulators worked up to and including Nougat.

--
This summary is posted, as always, to be a good Usenet citizen for all.