I didn’t think it too hard but it ended up being kind of fruitless, those things have almost no harddeive and I mostly did it to fuck around with Linux. Chromebooks, at least that one, had something like 16gbs and equally weak CPU to match (granted it might have changed since then but woof.)
Comment on This laptop released in 2016 no longer receive OS updates. Which means I can't update Chrome Browser
NoneYa@lemm.ee 8 months agoI have a Chromebook and it’s ridiculous how difficult they made it to install another OS.
I eventually did, but I needed to get something to flash a third party boatloader and at first I was told my laptop was not supported.
But getting an actual Linux distro has been so much better than ChomeOS.
taiyang@lemmy.world 8 months ago
invertedspear@lemm.ee 8 months ago
The whole point of a chrome book is to push you to use Google’s online services. I think you are still better off if you can do that with Linux running the machine.
Assman@sh.itjust.works 8 months ago
Same, I did this back in college because my Windows laptop shit out and I couldn’t afford another proper computer. I ended up duct taping an external drive to the back.
KillingTimeItself@lemmy.dbzer0.com 8 months ago
thankfully, once you get a proper UEFI bios on it, it’s free, forever.
But yeah, i agree, total bullshit how much work they put into not using UEFI from the get go lmao.
umbrella@lemmy.ml 8 months ago
i hate that this is now the future of computing
ObviouslyNotBanana@lemmy.world 8 months ago
Back when I had a Chromebook I actually had to open it up and remove a screw to be able to do it.
I_Miss_Daniel@lemmy.world 8 months ago
The droid restraining bolt?
ObviouslyNotBanana@lemmy.world 8 months ago
Yeah. Write protect screw.
FiniteBanjo@lemmy.today 8 months ago
No Cap, I used to have an old HP Pavillion where the case had to be pried apart for servicing and there was a screw on the Battery that would keep the computer from starting unless it was put back after battery removal. They work fine without batteries, but not without the screw. ¯_(ツ)_/¯
kspatlas@lemm.ee 8 months ago
The new chromebooks need special cables to unlock, either you have the skills and supplies to build a cable and adapter board or you buy a cable from a random company that is rarely in stock
ObviouslyNotBanana@lemmy.world 8 months ago
Wow that’s even worse.