Learn how to flip an outdated laptop computer right into a Chromebook without cost

If in case you have an getting older laptop or MacBook and have observed it is grow to be exceedingly sluggish and struggles to run easily, there is a free, easy approach to give it a brand new lease of life and keep away from losing cash on a brand new mannequin. All it’s important to do is ditch Windows or macOS and set up Google’s ChromeOS Flex. Even a decade-old laptop computer can really feel such as you purchased it final week. ChromeOS Flex has extraordinarily modest system necessities, which means even a finances laptop computer purchased years in the past will really feel snappy and responsive.

Putting in ChromeOS Flex is straightforward. You may even hold your authentic Home windows or Mac installations, packages and information if you wish to attempt it first. Should you do not prefer it, you’ll be able to merely change again to Home windows precisely as you left it in a couple of seconds. After all, in case you’re completely offered on the brand new OS, then you’ll be able to even then take away Home windows to unlock house, creating your personal private Chromebook utilizing your outdated laptop computer.

On this information, I am going to inform you how you can set up ChromeOS Flex whereas holding your present working system put in, or putting in ChromeOS Flex as your new working system. It is utterly free, works on most laptops that had been made after 2010 and all you want is an 8GB or bigger USB flash drive.

What’s ChromeOS Flex?

A minimal working system

Earlier than we begin, it is vital to know what Chrome OS Flex is. ChromeOS Flex is a browser-based working system, just like what you may discover on any customary Chromebook, which suggests you usually want entry to the Web and browser-based purposes. Should you’re completely happy to stay to on-line providers reminiscent of Gmail and Google Docs or Outlook and Microsoft’s 365 plus video and audio streaming providers, then Chrome OS Flex may very well be for you.

What you’ll be able to’t do is set up apps onto your laptop computer itself. There is no official Google Play Retailer assist as the entire level about ChromeOS Flex is for it to be easy and straightforward to run. Simply because it is browser-based doesn’t suggest your laptop computer might be unusable in case you’re not on-line, although, as most browser-based extensions for utilizing the likes of Google Docs do have offline modes. It is value checking together with your particular apps, although, as some cannot work offline, reminiscent of Microsoft 365.

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Learn how to set up ChromeOS Flex in your laptop computer

It isn’t laborious, however does take a while

To start out with, you may have to create a USB installer utilizing an 8GB or bigger USB flash drive — observe these steps:

1. In your laptop, use Google’s Chrome browser to access the Chrome Web Store by clicking on the extensions icon to the fitting of the tackle bar on the high.
2. Set up the Chromebook Recovery Utility extension.
3. Join your USB flash drive after which run the extension by clicking on the extensions icon once more and choosing the extension within the dropdown checklist.
4. As soon as you’ve got opened the Chrome Restoration Utility, choose ChromeOS Flex in each dropdown menus. That is the model you have to set up on a laptop computer. Now’s the time to again up any information you want in your USB flash drive too, as this course of will wipe it.
5. It is vital to verify in case you’re putting in ChromeOS Flex to the proper drive. This system reveals the make, mannequin and capability of the drive, so ensure it matches your USB flash drive. (For instance, if in case you have a 16GB Samsung USB flash drive, be sure that’s what you choose to flash ChromeOS Flex to, in any other case you would wipe your laptop’s laborious drive.)
6. After choosing your drive, the utility will start to flash the required information to it. The method will take a couple of moments after it begins.
7. As soon as it is full, depart your USB flash drive linked and restart your PC.

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Inform your laptop computer in addition into ChromeOS Flex

This subsequent step will allow you to take a look at, or go all-in

Along with your USB installer made, now it is time to put it to make use of. To take action, you may want to inform your laptop computer or laptop to make use of the USB set up in addition off of utilizing the boot menu, which requires hitting the fitting key, or mixture of keys, as your laptop restarts. The boot menu key’s totally different relying on the laptop computer producer, however you’ll find a listing of them here. For Mac customers, it relies on if in case you have an Intel Mac or an Apple Silicon Mac. You’ll find the proper directions here.

No matter platform, as quickly because the display screen goes black after clicking restart, faucet the boot menu key or the right key mixture each second until the boot menu display screen seems. Widespread examples are F12 for Dell and Lenovo or Esc for HP. Your guide or a Google search will reveal the important thing in your laptop computer if it isn’t within the checklist. As soon as within the boot menu, choose your USB flash drive from the checklist and your laptop computer ought to boot into ChromeOS Flex.

Alternatively, you’ll be able to change the boot machine in your laptop computer’s BIOS. Once more there is a particular key you may want to do that, often F2, F10 or Del. Not like the boot menu key choices, the BIOS choice won’t reset on the following restart and can proceed in addition into ChromeOS Flex until you modify it again.

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Attempt ChromeOS Flex first

Trial on USB drive to present you peace of thoughts

The wonderful thing about ChromeOS Flex is that you just’re in a position to run it from the USB flash drive first earlier than putting in it in your laptop computer. This implies in case you do not prefer it, you’ll be able to simply unplug your USB flash drive and go straight again to your earlier working system reminiscent of Home windows. Nonetheless, in case you do intend to make use of it long run, it is value putting in it to your laptop computer straight as you may see higher efficiency. You may nonetheless attempt it first, although, as you’ll be able to totally set up it utilizing the USB installer at any time.

If you wish to attempt it for a couple of days and intend to restart your PC throughout that point, you may wish to change your default boot machine in your laptop computer’s BIOS as defined within the earlier step, in any other case every time you restart you may have to enter the boot menu.

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Use ChromeOS Flex as your essential working system

You are able to go

Should you do not wish to hold any of your packages or information or your earlier working system wish to use ChromeOS Flex as an alternative, you’ll be able to choose Set up ChromeOS Flex from the primary set up display screen or by clicking on Set up ChromeOS Flex on the backside of your display screen if you subsequent boot out of your USB installer.

Putting in ChromeOS Flex onto your laptop computer’s laborious disk or SSD will imply it feels extra responsive as it is going to probably be sooner than operating it off your USB flash drive. Putting in it is going to wipe your laptop computer’s storage, although, so ensure you again up something you have to hold.

Putting in ChromeOS Flex to your laptop computer takes only a minute or two and as soon as it is carried out, you’ll be able to take away your USB flash drive and use it for different issues once more.

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FAQ

Q: Can I set up ChromeOS Flex on any laptop computer?

As long as the laptop computer mannequin is newer than 2010, it ought to meet the minimal specs.

Q: What apps can I take advantage of?

Nearly something that may run in an internet browser with an web connection, reminiscent of Google Docs, Netflix, or Microsoft 365.

Q: Can I set up software program on ChromeOS Flex?

No. Something that may run in a browser can run on ChromeOS Flex, however you’ll be able to’t set up software program.

Q: Do I’ve to delete Home windows?

No. You may run ChromeOS Flex off your USB flash drive to attempt it out, however it is going to run sooner if put in straight in your laptop computer.

Q: What measurement USB flash drive do I want to put in ChromeOS Flex?

You’ll need an 8GB or bigger USB flash drive.