You can install Chromium OS on your computer to be able to enjoy a light OS or if you just want to try the operating system offered by Google. Chromium OS is the open source version of Chrome OS, available only on Chromebooks. You can download it on any computer, but it is not necessarily compatible with all machines and it can cause software problems. This guide is for people who know how to install an operating system and have advanced computer skills.
Steps
Method 1 of 2: Install Chromium OS on a Computer Using CloudReady
Step 1. Download CloudReady from the NeverWare site
CloudReady is the easiest way to install Chromium OS on your computer. You will need to download the correct version for the operating system you are using.
- For example, if you are using a computer with Windows 10, you will need to click the button Download USB Maker.
- If you are using a Mac, click the button to download the 32-bit or 64-bit version and go to the NeverWare website to follow the CloudReady installation instructions.
- If you are having trouble downloading CloudReady, you will probably need to update the BIOS, format your hard drive, or disable fast boot and secure boot on your Linux.
Step 2. Download Etcher from the Balena website
Click the green download button to change the version of the app to download if needed.
- Etcher allows you to flash operating system images to SD cards and USB drives.
- Install Etcher at the end of the download by running the installer and then following the on-screen instructions (on Windows) or by dragging and dropping the program icon into the Applications folder (on a Mac).
Step 3. Flash CloudReady to a USB flash drive
You can find Etcher in the Start menu or in the Applications folder.
- Click on Select an image and choose the downloaded CloudReady file.
- Choose Select a drive and click on the formatted USB drive.
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Select To flash !
and the process will begin. It may take ten minutes or so to completely flash CloudReady to the USB drive, but make sure Etcher indicates that the process is 100% complete before closing the program.
Step 4. Restart your computer from the USB drive
Usually this can be done by pressing a command key like F12 (on Windows) or Opt (on Mac) during restart.
If you are using Windows and cannot boot from the USB drive, read this wikiHow to learn how to change the boot order of your machine
Step 5. Log in as a guest
Even though you're prompted to sign in with your Google account, you'll find the guest sign-in tool in the lower left corner of your screen.
Step 6. Press Ctrl + Alt + F2 (on Windows)
If you are using a Mac, press Ctrl + ⌘ Cmd + F2. This will open the terminal or a command line.
Step 7. Enter sudo / usr / sbin / chromeos-install --dst / dev / sda
This command will install Chrome OS on your computer's hard drive.
- This command will erase everything on your hard drive and install Chromium OS.
- If you are prompted for a username and password, use “chronos” for the username and “chrome” for the password.
Step 8. Enable proprietary services for Netflix
By default, CloudReady does not support Flash or DRM protection systems like Wildvine. To install them, go to Settings then navigate to Extensions. Press on To install alongside Wildvine Content Decryption Module, Adobe Flash and Proprietary Media Components.
If you have any issues, you can always look for solutions on CloudReady's troubleshooting page
Method 2 of 2: Run Chromium OS from USB Flash Drive in Live Mode
Step 1. Download Chromium OS build from the Chromium site
You will need to download the most recent Chromium build. Usually, builds are listed from newest to oldest, which means you'll need to download the first item in the list that appears.
Step 2. Unzip the compressed image
The file will be downloaded in.img.7z format, so you will need to download unzip software like 7-Zip (on Windows) or Keka (on Mac), both of which are free programs.
Step 3. Format the USB drive as FAT32
If you see "MS-DOS FAT" instead, be aware that it is the same as FAT32.
- In Windows, you can format your USB drive from File Explorer by clicking on it and then selecting To manage and Format. In the window that appears, choose Fat32 in the drop-down list in File system and then click To start up then OK. All data on the key will be deleted during formatting.
- On Mac, you will be able to access Disk Utility from the Utilities folder in Finder. Select your USB key, then click on the tab Wipe off. Make sure the window next to Format says "MS-DOS (FAT)" before clicking Wipe off.
Step 4. Download Etcher from the Balena site
If necessary, click the green download button to change the version to download.
- Etcher allows you to flash operating system images to SD cards or USB sticks.
- Install Etcher after the download is complete by running the installer utility. If you are using a Windows computer, follow the onscreen instructions. If you're using a Mac, drag and drop the program icon into the Applications folder.
Step 5. Flash the images installed on your computer to the USB drive
You can find Etcher in the Start menu or in the Applications folder.
- Click on Select an image then select the Chromium OS image file.
- Click on Select a drive then choose the USB drive you formatted.
- Click on To flash to start the process and flash the image to your USB drive. Once flashing is complete, Etcher will start validating the final product.
- Do not close the program until the process is 100% complete.
Step 6. Restart your computer and boot from the USB drive
This can usually be done using a command on the keyboard like F12 (on Windows) or Option (with a Mac) while the computer is restarting.
- If you are using Windows and are unable to boot from the USB drive, read this wikiHow article to learn how to change the boot order of your machine.
- Make sure the computer boots from the USB drive to boot with Chromium OS.
- Connect to a Wi-Fi network once Chromium OS has started to be able to log into your guest or Google account and access all the features offered by this operating system.
