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Can expired Chromebooks run Windows or Linux?

• xet7 4y ago
  Yes, if it is amd64 (not arm64), by installing UEFI. I installed newest Debian 11 and Chrome 2 weeks ago: https://github.com/xet7/chromebook https://github.com/xet7/chromebook
• cnst 4y ago
  Actually, Chromebooks have proprietary firmware, without the standard BIOS, so often it's a NO. However, on some of the earlier x86 machines, it is possible to install a more standard boot environment: https://mrchromebox.tech/#devices https://mrchromebox.tech/#devices Because of "security" considerations, the process often requires disassembly of the Chromebook, and toggle of the RW switch (or disconnect of the battery in a specific way), so it's basically much more involved than simply installing Linux over Windows. (There's also a bunch of blogspam which incorrectly tells you how to boot Linux without doing any of the above mandatory steps.) So, tl;dr: if you want good Linux support, you may as well buy a Windows machine than Linux-based Chromebook, ironically!
• bnolsen 4y ago
  As noted, take it apart and remove a screw. I think some newer ones can be switched to developer mode in other ways. Then install seabios or the like and then neverware cloudready (or whatever its named now) to get a generic but supported chromeos. The arm chromebooks are pretty sad for support, the x86 ones are the way to go.