Google’s ChromeOS is not accessible to put in on a laptop computer or desktop like Home windows or Linux, however the subsequent smartest thing is Google’s ChromeOS Flex. Previously referred to as Neverware CloudReady, the OS is principally constructed for companies and schooling, however Flex is free for private use, and it is so light-weight that it is nice for respiration new life into a pc that is struggling from the calls for of Home windows, MacOS or Linux. 

Google acquired Neverware in December 2020 and the results of that’s ChromeOS Flex. Whereas CloudReady was good, Flex is far nearer to the expertise you’d get with a Chromebook or different ChromeOS system. That features issues such because the official Chrome browser, help for Household Hyperlink accounts together with school-issued accounts and Telephone Hub, which helps you to hook up with an Android cellphone to indicate notifications and share recordsdata between the cellphone and laptop computer. The one factor you do not get is entry to the Google Play retailer and Android apps.

ChromeOS Flex runs effectively even on outdated {hardware}. That is why it is such a very good possibility for repurposing a laptop computer that may not run present variations of Home windows, MacOS or Linux. Google solely ensures Flex to work on a rising listing of licensed fashions, nonetheless. In case your mannequin is not licensed, that does not imply it will not work, although, simply that full performance and efficiency aren’t a given.  

You select: Trial run or full set up

Among the finest options of ChromeOS Flex, although, is which you could run it off a USB flash drive or SD card to check it out first with out fully overwriting your present OS. For the very best efficiency, it isn’t advisable to run Flex from a flash drive full time, however it would allow you to see if it will work on your wants. 

Putting in ChromeOS Flex is fast and painless. Step one is to assemble every part you want:

• A USB thumb drive or SD card 8GB or bigger

• A Home windows, Mac or Linux laptop to put in ChromeOS Flex on

Word that putting in ChromeOS Flex will fully erase your total arduous drive. Any essential recordsdata ought to be backed up first. You may additionally want a ChromeOS, Home windows PC or Mac system with the present model of the Chrome browser put in. This can be used to create the ChromeOS Flex USB installer and it does not have to be the identical system you propose to put in it on. The thumb drive may even be fully erased when creating the installer.

To run ChromeOS Flex, the goal laptop computer (or desktop) will have to be Intel or AMD x86-64-bit appropriate (newer than 2010 for the very best expertise), have 4GB RAM or extra, have at the very least 16GB of storage and you will want full administrator entry to the BIOS. As soon as you have obtained every part wanted, it is time to create the USB installer. 

• Open a Chrome browser window on a ChromeOS, Home windows PC or Mac system and add the Chromebook Restoration Utility extension by way of the Chrome net retailer. That is what you will use to construct the USB/SD card installer. 
• Go to the Chrome browser’s extensions menu positioned on the high proper of the Chrome browser window (it appears to be like like a tiny puzzle piece). Click on on it and a drop-down listing of extensions will seem. Discover the Chromebook Restoration Utility on the listing and click on on it to launch. The utility may have to be toggled on, too, which could be completed by clicking on Handle Extensions on the backside of the drop-down listing of extensions. 

• When the Chromebook Restoration Utility launches, you will be requested to establish what mannequin Chromebook you will be recovering. Nevertheless, there can be a hyperlink labeled Choose a mannequin from a listing within the dialog field. Click on that hyperlink and from the Choose a producer drop-down listing that seems choose Google Chrome OS Flex. Beneath that drop-down is one other labeled Choose a product from which you will select Chrome OS Flex.  
• Subsequent, insert your flash drive or SD card into the system you are utilizing to create the installer, choose it as your goal drive after which click on Create now. The creation course of takes as much as 20 minutes however mine was completed in half that point. As soon as the installer is completed, the drive could be ejected and is able to use. 

You are nearly completed. It is time to seize the laptop computer you wish to convert to a Chromebook. Ensure the laptop computer is turned off and insert your ChromeOS Flex installer thumb drive or SD card. 

The subsequent step is in addition the laptop computer from the thumb drive as an alternative of the interior storage drive. This requires you to press a boot key because the laptop computer is booting up. Boot keys fluctuate by producer. As an illustration, I transformed a MacBook Air and its boot secret is the Possibility key. Google has a listing of boot keys for main producers should you’re unsure what yours is.   

Activate the laptop computer and, because it boots, press the boot key to interrupt the boot course of. Chances are you’ll must press and maintain the important thing or hit it repeatedly to enter the boot menu. If completed appropriately, the laptop computer ought to provide the possibility to pick out which drive you’d prefer to boot from, the laptop computer’s inner drive or your USB drive. Choose the USB drive and press Enter. 

For those who’ve completed every part appropriately, you will see the ChromeOS Flex splash display adopted by a Welcome to ChromeOS Flex display. (If not, retrace your steps utilizing Google’s set up information.) From there you possibly can select to check the OS and run it immediately from the flash drive or set up ChromeOS Flex on the interior storage. Doing the latter offers you the very best efficiency; nonetheless, it additionally erases all content material from the interior drive and the native OS cannot be recovered. For those who aren’t 100% sure you wish to use ChromeOS Flex, attempt working it from the USB drive first. 

The complete OS set up can take as much as 20 minutes (my MacBook Air was completed in lower than 5 minutes, although). No matter the way you determine to run it, although, the setup course of is identical: Choose a Wi-Fi community, conform to Google’s phrases of service, select if the Chromebook is for your self or a toddler, after which register utilizing your Google account info. 

Ta-da, Chromebook! At the very least, shut sufficient for many wants. Efficiency goes to depend upon what your laptop computer has in it. My set up was on an early 2015 MacBook Air and it is a lot sooner than it was with MacOS on it. The one draw back for my specific mannequin is the built-in webcam just isn’t supported however an exterior USB webcam labored simply superb. 

For those who’ve obtained a USB flash drive and an outdated laptop computer, it is definitely definitely worth the minimal effort to check out and, once more, it is free. 

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