Owner of an old computer? Give it a new lease of life with Chrome OS Flex!

Do you have an old laptop or old computer lying in the corner of your desk, gathering dust and taking up space? Instead of telling yourself that something will get a benefit these days, it may be time to take things into your own hands. How? ‘Or’ What? By installing Chrome OS Flex, Google’s free operating system.

Chrome OS Flex transforms any computer on which it is installed into a Chrome OS device, giving a new purpose to that electronics layer. If the idea of ​​installing the operating system on an older computer scares you, do not be afraid: ZDNet Editorial staff will work for you with this guide to installing Chrome OS Flex compatible with computers. Windows, Mac and Linux.

Be careful though: Chrome OS Flex is currently in early access through the Google Dev Channel, so not all features will work and not all laptops and configurations will be supported. Responsibility. It is therefore expected to encounter some errors or problems when using the final version, which will be finalized by Google.

System Requirements for Installing Chrome OS Flex

Chrome OS is on Google’s support page for Flex Too long list of devices, Each marked with a different level of support. If your laptop or desktop is not on this list, you can not try Chrome OS Flex. In fact, I used the Huawei MateBook D for this article – it is not listed.

Google lists the minimum system requirements for a PC, Mac or Linux machine running Chrome OS Flex. Is here Minimal configuration Devices Required:

• Architecture: Intel or AMD x86-64 bit compatible device
• RAM: 4 GB
• Internal storage: 16 GB
• Bootable from USB key
• BIOS: Full administrator access. You must boot from the Chrome OS Flex USB installer and make some changes to the BIOS if you have trouble.
• Processor and graphics card: Components made before 2010 are not completely satisfactory.
• Note: The Intel GMA 500, 600, 3600 and 3650 graphics hardware does not meet the Chrome OS Flex performance standards.

As you can see, the requirements are very low. Chrome OS Flex is designed to work more or less on any computer created after 2010. However, in addition to the system that meets the minimum requirements, you will need a Chrome browser and an 8 GB system. Install the operating system on the old system.

Create Chrome OS Flex USB Installer

To install Chrome OS Flex on another computer, you must first create a so-called USB installer. The USB drive contains all the files and data needed to install the operating system. Google has made it easy to create installers using the Chromebook Recovery Utility extension. You need to add an extension to your browser From the Chrome Web Store.

Once added, open the extension and follow the instructions that appear in the window. Includes the process of formatting the USB drive you are using (erasing everything in it currently, so make sure there is nothing important in it). On the second screen, you will be asked to identify your Chromebook. Click Select a model from the list, in the Manufacturer drop-down list, find Google Chrome OS Flex and select it. Next, click Select Product and then the only option Chrome OS Flex (Developer-Default). Finally, click Continue.

From there, connect the USB drive to your computer, select it from the drop-down list, click Continue, and click Create Now. The extension will take a few minutes to download all the required files, then write them to the USB stick you are using. Wait until the extension does its job. This process took us less than 5 minutes, but it mostly depends on the speed of your internet connection.

How to install Chrome OS Flex on PC, Mac or Linux system?

Once the installation disk is created, you’re ready to install or install Chrome OS Flex on your old computer. Shut down your old computer and insert the USB installation drive. Press the power button and then immediately press the start key on your computer. If you do not know what these are, Google provides a list of common keys classified by brand.

On a Mac, for example, you press the custom key. In Dell, you press F12. If your computer is not listed, you will need to restart it several times and try different keys when it starts up. You can also search your laptop model and power key to find it.

From there, the process will vary depending on the type of system, but selecting the USB installation drive you want to boot the system, rebooting the system, and launching the Chrome OS Flex installer are just some of the steps required. If you have trouble with this step, I suggest looking for your specific computer model and the query “How to boot from a USB drive”.

When you boot from the USB installation disk and before removing the disk completely from your old computer, you will be asked if you would like to test Chrome OS Flex. If this is the path you choose, the operating system will run on a USB drive. If you have already decided, install Chrome OS Flex and follow the instructions. You’ll need to have your WiFi details on hand, and once the system is complete you’ll need to sign in using your Google Account; So keep this information in hand as well.

Once the installation is complete your system will restart and you will be greeted by a standard Chrome OS login page where you can sign in with your Google Account and start using your old system with the new operating system.

Source: ZDNet.com