Google remains committed to improving device longevity
Don’t throw away your out-of-date Chromebook just yet as newly found evidence suggests Google may expand the availability of ChromeOS Flex to the old laptops.
I tried putting Linux on an old Chromebook once and it became unusable. Probably my own fault but I’m very reluctant to try again. If Google released something then I’d feel more confident in the process.
I’ve installed this on an old Chromebook already and it does work. You have to dig around for it a bit online but it has been available publicly for a while.
However , surprise, if it’s an old Chromebook you’re going to have to remove the internal write protect screw or use a Susie-q cable to make it the primary operating system on the device as they never intended for you to overwrite the existing os.
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Just run Ubuntu or Mint on the old Chromebook and be done with it.
Linux turns a Chromebook into a fully functional machine, and since they are so cheap, you can get a halfway decent “Linuxbook” for less than $200.
Chrome OS is Linux though, so you’re basically just degoogling it with a cousin distro.
a worthy cause
I tried putting Linux on an old Chromebook once and it became unusable. Probably my own fault but I’m very reluctant to try again. If Google released something then I’d feel more confident in the process.
So it’s like installing a normal Linux distro, only more cumbersome, complicated, less capable a system, and full of the usual Google spyware. Cool.
Just install Linux Mint or something.
I’ve installed this on an old Chromebook already and it does work. You have to dig around for it a bit online but it has been available publicly for a while.
However , surprise, if it’s an old Chromebook you’re going to have to remove the internal write protect screw or use a Susie-q cable to make it the primary operating system on the device as they never intended for you to overwrite the existing os.
You can boot from usb or dual boot though.
Edit: plug for this awesome site that lets you update bios on chromebooks : https://mrchromebox.tech/#home