How to Install Linux or Windows on an Old Chromebook
Today we're going over the process you can use to turn an old Chromebook into a normal laptop running Linux, Windows, or really any other modern operating system you want.
~Resources~
Searching for a used Chromebook: ebay.to/3jZS1Bs
Turning on Developer Mode: mrchromebox.tech/#devmode
Flashing New Firmware: mrchromebox.tech/#fwscript
Rufus (for creating a USB drive to install new OS): rufus.ie/
240GB SSD Upgrade for the Acer C720: amzn.to/337amGB
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~About Hoosier Hardware~
Hey folks! I just want to welcome all the fellow techy folks to the channel. I focus on PC hardware, but that doesn't prevent me from occasionally working with other tech as well. Hope you enjoy the content, and thanks for dropping by!
~Contents~
0:00 Intro
0:20 Who is this process right for?
2:05 Considerations for picking a Chromebook
3:54 Tutorial - Flashing the new firmware
10:44 Thoughts on the Acer C720 running Linux Mint
#Chromebook #Linux #LinuxMint
Thank you so much for the thorough video. Even little things like "press Ctrl D" at 4:36 were essential because that was missing from another tutorial I had been trying to follow. Your walkthrough has got everything. I've now got Mint 21 Xfce running beautifully on my friend's old sunset Chromebook.
I watched a lot of videos on installing Linux on an Acer C720 Chromebook. I was always sent back to your video. I am so grateful. I was able to do this without any problems. I was able to even upgrade my SSD as well. Thank you so much for your easy to follow instructions. I now love my Linux Chromebook.
Useful tip: if you have a (relatively) newer Chromebook without a write-access screw inside, usually disconnecting the battery and plugging in AC power will enable write access. You'll need to do this until the new firmware is installed, then you can reconnect the battery 👍 This worked for me with a HP Chromebook 11A 8G EE, which is now happily running Linux Mint 21 on its ARM64 chipset. Thanks for a great tutorial video, super helpful 🙂
I got it to work.......I installed a 256 SSD drive and installed Linux Mint on my chromebook. Thanks for the tutorial. i did help in the end.
Thanks for this. The part you covered worked fine. Could have saved myself some trouble using Rufus like you recommended instead of Yumi like I did at first.
grabbed two these exact things for a silly winter project this video was the inspiration :3 many thanks.
Watching your video on a 14 year old Sony Vaio C2D 2.25Ghz, 4Gb RAM and an SSD running Manjaro KDE. Flawless. Please do more with Linux?
Thank you! I have the exact same Chromebook and was trying to use it for grading. The school software actually said it wouldn't run because the OS was 'vintage' LOL. :) I watched this and ordered a new SSD drive for the Acer and it worked perfectly. I followed your steps one by one and took my time. After install, I was able to run updates and it works perfectly. Also, the school software didn't kick me out! I now can use this again with Linux Mint. Thank you for such a great video!
Dude, fantastic work. I have been trying for a long time to find something that works and you did it. Great work man! 10/10
Hello good sir perhaps you could help me. I followed the guide but near the end I didn't put the flashdrive in it I got to the boot menu but from there it didn't work was the flashdrive essential
@@pringlesmaninmercysbody4294 it is essentially
@@lavie69 went back downloaded it on a flashdrive o boot in linux but now it freezes after like 5 minutes
note:for old chromebooks like the cr48, you need to enable a switch under the battary for developer mode
would that be the case for an old (2013) Samsung chromebook? Thanks for any help on this because I was trying to figure out how I can continue to use it..
mine is so old it does not have that setting
@@k8was Remove the center screw on the motherboard?
@@k8was old enough it has a BIOS splash on restarts?
I followed your video for a Lenovo N21 chromebook; worked perfectly!! THANK-YOU!!
How long it took?
@@madvelila between 7 and 11 minutes.
You're a bloody legend, mate! Thanks for the tutorial
Nice! Very thorough. Thank you for posting this. I haven't tried it yet, but want to.
Hoping to install Zorin on an Acer C738T. Your video offers a thorough look at the process. I'm looking forward to the process. Thanks for the video!
Thank you for this! I’m wanting to get a cheap chromebook to do this with. I wasn’t even thinking about the removable SSD. I thought I would have to use an SD or microSD card.
I've done two chromebooks using your method. They work well. Thanks alot!
can you do it in a chromebook cb3-131 cuz that what i have
@@supermanthehelper12_yt59 Don't know. Give it a try. Just make sure choose "yes" when asked to backup your existing Chrome OS bios just in case it does not work.
This tutorial helped SO MUCH! Thanks!
thanks for this video, great work dude!!
I have a Lenovo N23 Chromebook. I jut followed these intructions and I'm running Linux Mint Mate on the chromebook now complete with sound. I did open the box and remove the screw which had a sticker over it. A few screens appeared a little different as I went through the process, but overall it was straightforward and easy to follow. I own several computers and have found Linux Mint my go to system. I didn't need a chromebook with Mint but thought I'd like to try this. Had one instance of aloud sound when the video paused on KZhead but other than that, no glitches. I am now going to try to install it from the usb stick. Thanks for your help.
Thank you thank you thank you!!!! I searched all over Google and it was getting so annoying! You used my EXACT chromebook in this example! Yay! A KZheadr saves the day once again. =)
thank you very much. The tutorial worked perfectly for me. I installed Chromeos flex on an acer c731 notebook.
I loved your video, We need this kind of useful hacks !!! thanks man !!
I hope my Chromebook is this easy, my book has emmc soldered storage, and support ended in June so I figure now is a time to tinker with it. for the Samsung 500c you can follow this video, the write protection screw is on the back side of the mother board so you will have to take the MOBO out to get to it. Thank you for the through guide, everyone else is doing the not so true install where Chrome OS is still running in the back this is a proper "how to" on the subject probably 98% of Chromebook owners are looking for.
Great tutorial, thank you!
I have the ACER C720. It was my first of two Chomebooks. I am going to give this a try. I am not a techie... yet. Working on my Network + though.
Thank you so very much, they make excellent light weight laptops, and I love Linux.
This totally helped me out switching an old Chromebook at work that we needed linux on. Thank you so much!
Good job, I think you covered it all
Linux FTW! I actually have Mint running on a couple of my machines, specifically, the ones I don't use alot, or are used as file servers. but I run Manjaro on my dailies. You can actually game on Linux these days, as Valve are pouring more effort into Proton now. Rufus is wonderful, but Linux users don't have Rufus natively. We use Balena Etcher, or any neat USB-imager some Distros include.
I turned mine into Bodhi in 2014 and have thought of junking it - but thank you, I'll give it a go. Bodhi is really old and zero support for this config. It's really light and perfect when you want more than a tablet and less than a laptop.
This was helpful I ended up installing chrome os flex on it and it’s a CB3-532!
Thanks allot most of my students use Acer c720 I need more detailed information on this thanks again
If you not sure which Screw is write protection.. usually it's screwed over a split ring of copper "( )" not like other screws "O"
Awesome! No problem with touchscreen?
I have never used Linux but I ordered the Acer Chromebook 713 2021 model . What do you use Linux for ? And what programs do you use ?
Very explanatory. Did you have any issues with the sound after the installation?
Some laptops have audio issues like hp beats audio laptops. You can use HDAJackRetask to fix this in some cases but search for your model laptop Settings and be careful when doing it, you could mess up your loudspeakers
no
Are you able to use a keybind for brightness? I'm finding it difficult to bind for brightness because xbacklight or ybacklight require sudo to adjust the brightness level.
yeah I had the same Chromebook hopefully you'll do a video for Windows too
Followed the video, worked like a charm. Have you found a way to stop the auto start up when the lid is opened? That's the only thing I don't like. Thanks.
Thank you for this ;-)
Thank you, worked perfectly on my Acer 710. Running Ubuntu and it is snappy for a 10-year-old computer I was going to send to be recycled. Bob S
Hi, I have Acer C710 chromebook will it work on it .?
Please reply as it will be very helpful for me
Thank You!
I had the same chromebook as you, or so I thought. It looked exactly the same but when I opened it up to remove the screw it was completely different. I’m not sure if I got lucky or it wasn’t necessary with my chrome book, but I took out the screw I thought was correct and got the boot loader on it just fine. Been running Cinnamon on it for about 2 weeks and it’s been great at work. My only complaint is my sound doesn’t work. I have to run it through a Bluetooth speaker. Since I only do work on it the sound isn’t important.
amazing. Very cool.
I got to 8:38 but then I didn't know how to get the Linux or Windows software onto the Chromebook. If I pressed reboot it would just restart the process and if I pressed default boot, a lot of text would appear with shell on the bottom, and I would have to type exit only to go back to the same page. It would say if you wound up here by mistake, type exit to go back to the UEFI menu. If I try to boot with the EMC thing, it would say that I would have to verify that something was inside it. There were other options in the boot manager but since I suck with computers I had no clue what they mean. I never got the screen on 8:54.
Do you think this would work well with this model? Acer C910-C453 ? Intel Celeron 4GB, 16 BG SSD.
Runs great as an inexpensive browsing laptop
great tutorial
Thanks for ur magnificent tutorial!
I really, really, really appreciate this video though I found that my Samsung Chromebook 5 550 had a WP Jumper instead BUT after shorting that, all other steps in your video helped me out. Now to see what distro to play with. Do you have any recommendations other than Mint?
I have used gallium and xubuntu. Lie Xubuntu best!
bias I havent tried rest I like Ole Ubuntu Studio
What if the model of chromebook doesn't have a write protect screw? The lenovo 5 duet doesn't seem to have one. Do I just skip that step, or is there something more I need to do?
this is great! just a quick question, is it possible to have both chromeos and linux mint running on the same laptop? Like, you can still use chromeos for school, but switch to linux mint at home?
Im wondering the same, did u dual boot linux mint and chrome OS?
question? i have an external USB hard drive can install an operating system on it an use the memory on the chromebook to save things on it put an OS on the external USB Hard drive because this chromebook sees my device i can use it to what ever i dont know just yet to what OS i want
Thank you so much
@HoosierHardware hi I need your help. I installed linux mint deviants edition 5 on my external hdd but I cannot find my ntfs partition on the external and my main ntfs partition on the pc's internal hard drive when I boot with the lmde 5. but it shows me the other linux partitions I have on both internal and external hard drives in the devices section. I also went to the file system section of the lmde 5 I installed and I found an EFI folder which when I opened was showing the content of my internal window xp partition as folders within this same folder. but I cannot find all the ntfs partitions either external or internal to mount. but my lmde 5 is set to automount all devised or drives or partitions whichever you want to call it to list in devices. but not showing. Any help please? one thing I also noticed is I don't have any efi or swap partition created on my external hard drive partitions. but the grub is installed on the external hard drive.
I'm totally sick about the countless OS software problems with these chromebugs. Will the HDMI connection work properly if I install Linux ? Or it's an area with problems ?
Thank you.
do you need a usb with the firmware/software or do you not require one?
Thanks Brother
I have done this conversion. I installed Linux Mint 20.2 mate. I was able to remap volume controls in keyboard shortcuts. But I can’t work out how to create a custom shortcut for brightness controls. Can anyone help?
can you please tell me about the exact ssd you used because i have the same laptop and idk anything about ssd
Excuse me can i ask you question? What OS is compatible to Acer C710? I really need to replace Chrome OS because i cannot install Apps that i need
I installed Mint on a SD on the chromebook and left the software on the eMMC but don't know how to get back to it as it is not a option in the new boot menu
Can I find this in print somewhere? I've just found an Acer c740 CP4e and I want to do the same with Elementary OS. I'm very nearsighted, and some of this is difficult to make out. Are there printed, step by step instructions somewhere? And how can I have multiple windows going and be in developer mode for only one of them? This Chromebook thing is new to me, Lenovo Thinkpad fan.
Hello friend, a pleasure, you know I have looked for many videos and which this is the most sercano I have seen, since the procedures are the same that I have done, however when I restart the computer and when I want to install windows this appears a blue screen Windows 10 with the acpic bios message and it doesn't allow windows to install obviously, do you know what that problem will be?
Can you find a way to do it for HP chromebook? Cuz I don't have an Acer
Hi Idk if you’re going to respond right away but at the rebooting ( 8:37 ) My computer keeps telling me that if I wound up there by mistake to type exit. I’ve don’t this many times to get stuck at the same spot
Thank you, I did it 👍
You have acer or another model
@@ra9im308 acer
@@nelsonm.v6761 Do you search if you Chromebook support Linux installed Or you're just go fot it?
@@ra9im308yes I tried linux also ,mine one is acer chromebook c720, kindly change your chromebook's BIOS before making any changes on OS
Hi -- I was trying to install on an Acer C720 as you show in your video. The install of Mint 20.2 seemed to be going fine until the end when I got "unable to install grub in /dev/sda -- this is a fatal error." Can you help out here? Many thanks.
ohhh that intro so goood
Thanks, i was given an 8-year-old Chromebook with a battery that lasted over 4 hours Put Kubuntu on it following the tutorial only issue I had to reset the root password but found another video to do that
Thanks!! I'm up & good to go, but one question. I can no longer simulate the F11 & F12 keys. I uses to use the search button and (minus) and (plus) keys. Any tips?
add usb keyboard
It looks like that came out in 2013. equipped with a 3950mAh Battery that could run for about 8 hours, 30 minutes when it was new. you might want to see if a new battery will renew the life in that Chromebook.
Very good, I just picked one of these acers up for installing Linux, but other videos were vague and this was particular to machine and OS (I'm going to try LMDE5). Very thorough, but I gotta review because I missed (or you missed) the step of actually installing Linux. I saw flashing of BIOS, script for update UEFI, but then you'd still need to INSTALL Linux, wouldn't you? (I see where you made bootable USB later) ...I subscribed to see Windows 10, but I'd like to see a dual boot setup. I've used Linux and VirtualBox for years, but VirtualBox just doesn't seem there yet. It seems ok until you compare with native system so now I'm dual booting for the one or two programs that need it...
Follow up: so I'm checking in from my LMDE5 Linuxbook, I call it deGoogled. It ROCKS. For my use, especially while traveling, it does everything, and battery lasts forever.
@@girohead I'm guessing you meant to write deGoogled. People make that mistake all the time.
@@chrinamint Thanks, I thought I had caught it, now it's deGoggled as well..:P
@@girohead haha! Cool video though thought I'd let you know. I've already referred back to it several times and I just converted my old Chromebook to a Linux machine watching your video. Thanks so much! Now I feel like my old Chromebook is DE-GOGGLED and has a new life! 🤣
@@chrinamint These Linuxbooks rock! I've had a couple hiccups but don't think they were hardware/OS related (lost password/boot issues), all recovered fine. I crept up to my 16GB limit a couple times, which prevented boo until I removed some. There are ways to upgrade m.2 disk to 128GB, 256GB and more! I'm currently fine with my 16GB, I just use USB for storage.
So is it possible to install linux on the ssd so it can boot from that instead of the live usb?
I have installed linux mint and xubuntu on two C740s, and had no problems. I decided to get a little crazy and install an os on a 64gb USB, so that each computer could run two different os types. I can get the iso on the first install usb, then go through the long process of installing the os to the 64GB usb, but they never boot on the machine. There's always a bash message. Is there an easy way to get the 64GB to boot on the old linux chromebook? I've been reading until I'm crosseyed, but it never works. I upgraded both ssds, one-120gB, the other 256 GB ...Should I just give it up and dual boot, since I've got plenty of space? I'd lioke to have a portable linux mint that I could plug in anywhere, but it ain't happening. HELP, Please!!
How well does steam run on here? I have no delusions that this will run remotely modern things, just curious because I am planning on installing linux on my old c720.
Hey. Thanks a lot for this video. The process was successful. However, I have no audio nor mic and I have no idea what to do. Anything that you would recommend doing?
Can you use headphones also how did you get chrome is on the SD card
@@monkeyboy4492 yes I can use the headphones
Hey man could you please help me I followed the steps the only thing I didn't do was put in the flash drive was this step essential, I got to the boot menu but from there it won't work if you could please help me it would be very appreciated
@@IKdeoSSa_7 i can't
Any idea if it would be possible to install Linux Mint like this on a Acer Chromebook r721t?
could you help me because i have followed the tutorial correctly but when i have linux mint open and i watch a video firefox crashes also my screen keeps flashing
Will this work for an old Epik chromebook that has ARM processor?
I have a C710 did work until it was at the point it tried to boot with the OS and said it failed, and I don’t have a backup for chrome OS but I do want Linux. What should I do?
when I instaled linux mint I used the super button(search key) to set the volume and brightness keys
could you do a video on this but with an ASUS Chromebook C423? thats the model i have and i cant figure it out
Hi, I'll try this tut, I have a samsung xe550c22 serie 5. I just have a dubt about firmware: you command from shell couldbe diffrent? Intel Celeron Processor 867, 16GB RAM This is ungrade for more capacity SSD.
I have the exact chromebook running Linux mint, not a fan of it to be honest so how would I be able reinstall chrome os?
Why don't they just sell a Linux laptop?
the linux os is open source unlike Chrome os
Some companies do sell laptops with linux pre-installed on them. Although if you're using linux you probably know how to install it.
Thanks still works in 2023
What if you would install a GalliumOS, doe 's the chromebook keyboard work the same?
I’m in the menu and when I go to boot menu it shows UEFI she’ll and I select it and it takes me to a command page help plzz
Hey, so whenever I am done with installing linux mint on my old chromebook, it says to remove the installation medium and press enter. I do the steps, and the chromebook boots into the white screen that shows up whenever you boot it from developer mode. I hit ctrl-l, and boot through the usb, and it makes me redo the linux mint install. How do I make it automatically boot into linux mint, and even better not make me redo the installation proccess?
I have a Lenovo IdeaPad 3 11" Chromebook. Need to know if this process will work for it
Are ssd's required for this to work or could I use an external usb? (128gb) Just tried it says arm devices are not supported by the script. :(
@hoosierhardware I'm trying to change my sisters old Chromebook to ubuntu but it says "this script only supports 64bit os on intel-based devices; ARM devices are not supported." Please make a video about this it would help a lot. Thank you
My Acer Chromebook version of LInux does not see any USB connected drives, can this be solved ? Is this normaal ?
My only question is, what can I use to create the Bootable USB while using this Chromebook? I have not been able to find any way to create the USB using my Chromebook.
Every time I try to boot it up it runs this code thing saying welcome to uefi shell! And I don’t know what else to do.
thank you for the video but what brand can lenovo chromebook do it
hi i got given chrome laptop and i wanna download runescape on it but have no idea what im doing any help please
I followed along (I have the same laptop)exactly right up until you finished downloading the thing we got from going into the code. When I finished downloading it didnt auto reboot so I waited a couple of minutes then decided to go back to the main menu (of the coding part) and clicked the reboot button from there. I then rebooted like you did except when I clicked reboot it showed an error saying failed: verify you have a 64 bit uefi or something like that. Then I click a button code appears then shell appears and above it says if you got here by accident type exit. Then I get put back to the reboot menu. I cant get out of it. I cant hard reset my laptop or anything
I have similar outcome. After reboot my computer does not boot at all. Power led goes on but no bios or anything.
Same here help plz
@@elimiranda5891 I sold it to friend of mine who has device that can flash micro chips. He desoldered bios chip and flashed it with the device and now to laptop works. Ofcourse he flashed bios that supports linux and windows.
All you need to do is plug in a 64-bit installation disk and it'll run it, doing the installation. You may have to change the boot device by pressing esc on the boot screen.