How to make your own Chromebook from an old computer
- You can turn an unsupported computer (XP? Vista? Windows 7? macOS Sierra?) into a fully supported, secure Chromebook!
- This guide installs Neverware's CloudReady Home Edition - a Chromebook clone project, sponsored by Google themselves
- Our short-term goal: help friends and neighbors reuse old devices
- Our long-term goal: support additional Internet access for local school districts
- ASD has enough Chromebooks to temporarily loan to all students who lack devices at home
- Our effort can supply permanent devices, to close the gap for the long term
- We can also supply additional devices - for households that need more than one
What you'll need
-
A spare 64-bit computer - a laptop, netbook, MacBook - or even a desktop!
- A USB stick - 8 GB or larger; USB 3.0 recommended for speed
-
The installation software - download here, more details below
- Another computer - to put the installer software on the USB stick
- An Internet connection
- A Google account - or create one during the install
Getting ready to install
- Get the software ready
-
Download the software
- Download the "USB Maker" utility for Windows systems - see the 'Tech Notes' section below for macOS/Linux options
- Create the USB stick as shown in those instructions
- Learn which special keys you need to know
- Booting from the USB stick
- You may also need to know the key needed to change low-level setup (BIOS) settings
- Learn about your device
- Check for any gotchas about your device in the list of officially certified models:
- You can also check our hardware tracker - a list of devices we've tested
- If needed, many more technical details are in the "Tech notes for geeks" section later in this document
Install steps
Back up any data before installing - this will erase your device!
- Plug the USB into the device and restart, pressing the special key as documented above
- Timing of this can be tricky and may take multiple attempts
- Tap the key every second or so as soon as you see text or images on the screen
- You may have to Google a little for tips if this doesn't work
- You have two options when the installer starts:
- To "try before you buy" ... just log in!
- This runs CloudReady directly from the USB stick - without changing anything your device
- If you can't back up your data, running from the USB stick will preserve it
- To install permanently, skip the login
- Just click on the clock in the lower-right corner
- Then choose "Install OS", and follow the prompts!
- Some systems power down immediately after install - this is normal
- The full official install guide
- If you're handing off a system for someone else to use, STOP HERE
Logging in after install
Only do this when the primary user of the system is available
For all user types
- The first account to log in will be the primary owner of the device
- If you change your mind, there's no way to do a "factory reset" - just reinstall
- To play certain video types, enable proprietary media plugins in CloudReady Settings (the gear in the lower-right menu, search for 'media'),
For general / adult accounts
- Install Chrome security extensions - strongly recommended; just click each one to learn more and optionally install:
For children with school-issued accounts managed by Google / G Suite (many school districts with Chromebooks)
- Extensions are managed by the school and will be installed automatically
For children who don't have a Google account or need a new one
- Consider using Family Link to enable parental controls on their personal account (separate from school-district-managed accounts)
- Consider enabling SafeSearch - video
- Consider enabling OpenDNS, using their FamilyShield DNS servers
For all children
- Other precautions may be necessary to protect children, but are beyond the scope of this simple howto
- We must assume that a responsible adult will be managing a child's Internet usage
- Volunteer Chromebook builders cannot be held responsible for how devices are used after issue
For most folks, that's it!
Tech notes for geeks
- Only 64-bit hardware is supported, including 64-bit Apple/Macbooks
- Hardware requirements: 2GB RAM, 32GB storage
- UEFI is not strictly required, but try enabling it first - installs generally go better when UEFI is enabled
- Tips for making the USB stick:
- USB 3 recommended for better speed
- You can use Rufus on Windows or Etcher on macOS
-
Unetbootin will also work. but may require more configuration than Rufus or Etcher
- If you don't have Windows, you can use 'dd' on Linux or macOS to write the installer .bin straight to /dev/sdX (the parent drive, not a partition)
- Try the MBR and BIOS/UEFI option first, or try GPT if that doesn't work
- For efficiency, you may want one of each for efficient installs of either type
- Good guides and videos for these USB methods are here: https://partedmagic.com/creating-liveusb/
- Before installing, optimize your BIOS:
- Update the BIOS to the latest available from the manufacturer
- If you need a DOS-bootable USB stick for this, try this guide
- Enable UEFI, enable AHCI storage, clear and then enable TPM
- How to enable TPM (recommended - keeps crypto secrets secure in hardware chip): https://guide.neverware.com/tpm/
- After installation, go back into BIOS and enable Secure Boot if available
- Other prep tips on Neverware's page for installing on uncertified devices
- Black screen on boot? Enabling UEFI in the BIOS is a common fix
- Consider erasing/wiping devices prior to install
- Upgrades and patches for CloudReady are automatic and rolling (reinstall not required)
- Cool tips and features
- The Chromebook Linux VM-based development environment is supported
- Lots of good cmdline tools available in the Chrome Shell (crosh) - launch with Control+Alt+T
- Check battery health with: battery_test [seconds]
- Check TPM status with: tpm_status
- Consider subscribing to the Neverware blog: https://www.neverware.com/blogcontent/
- To repurpose expired Chromebooks:
- Other CloudReady FAQs here
Things that are not supported
- 32-bit hardware (older XP systems, etc.)
- Dual boot is not supported - your original OS will be replaced
- Family Link (Google's parental control): Does Family Link Work On A CloudReady Machine? (KB article)
- G Suite accounts work fine, but the G Suite fleet management 'enrollment' feature does not work with this free Home edition
- Google Play Store and Android apps
- Installing CloudReady on a true Chromebook that has reached its Auto Update Expiration date - might work, but not guaranteed
- There is no "Power Wash" (factory reset) for CloudReady; to reset, just do a reinstall - the first person to log in is the primary owner of the system
Tips for building systems for others
- Cleaning and sanitization tips:
- 70% isopropyl alcohol can be used, but drying time can vary and there is potential for damage if not done right
- If you let a device sit in open air for three days, any viral load is likely gone
- When dropping off, consider a simple masking-tape label with date and time of handoff (so others can easily calculate the three days)
- If you can walk someone through a build over the phone, you can save six days - three for pick-up, and three for drop-off!
- Recommended install sequence
- For each new model, log in with your own Google account at boot to test
- Note any compatibility or hardware issues in our hardware tracker
- Then perform the install
- Do not log into the system after the final install
- If you do, this will set your account as the primary 'owner' of the device
- Allways do a final install without logging in to be donation-ready
- Suggested QA checks (taken from Neverware's own list):
- Which BIOS key to boot from USB
- Whether BIOS supports UEFI or not
- Whether BIOS supports TPM or not (and what version - 1.2 vs 2.0)
- Installation - OK, or any quirks
- Sleep/Resume - closing the lid and waiting for sleep is a quick check
- Wifi - likely already tested at install
- Webcam - important for Zoom, check both support and performance (note: Zoom does not yet support backgrounds on ChromeOS or CloudReady)
- USB - likely working if the installer works
- Volume control keyboard shortcuts or keys
- Brightness control keyboard shortcuts or keys
- Audio in
- Audio out
- Bluetooth
- Ethernet - if present, otherwise 'n/a'
- SD card
- Video output
- Video playback
- Making a test Zoom call is a good general test
- We are building a CloudReady hardware model tracker
- Please note your make and model, and any lessons learned or tips, and send to royce@techsolvency.com
- If you are a geek doing a lot of builds, send your Google account email and I will add you as an editor
- Consider privately documenting broad source information and serial numbers
- For kids, consider enabling OpenDNS, using their FamilyShield DNS
servers
References
Posts to draw in potential users and resources
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$Date: 2020/10/26 21:26:36 $