Key Takeaways
- Simply revitalize your outdated laptop computer with ChromeOS Flex as an alternative of shopping for a brand new one — it is free and easy.
- Hold your authentic Home windows or Mac system and recordsdata whereas testing ChromeOS Flex — switching again is simple.
- ChromeOS Flex, a browser-based OS, provides snappy efficiency on most price range laptops made post-2010.
In case you have an getting older laptop or MacBook and have observed it is change into exceedingly sluggish and struggles to run easily, there is a free, easy technique to give it a brand new lease of life and keep away from losing cash on a brand new mannequin. 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, that means even a price range laptop computer purchased years in the past will really feel snappy and responsive.
If you happen to do not prefer it, you may merely swap again to Home windows precisely as you left it in a number of seconds.
Putting in ChromeOS Flex is simple. You’ll be able to even maintain your authentic Home windows or Mac installations, packages and recordsdata if you wish to strive it first. If you happen to do not prefer it, you may merely swap again to Home windows precisely as you left it in a number of seconds. After all, in case you’re completely offered on the brand new OS, then you too can take away Home windows to unencumber house, creating your individual private Chromebook utilizing your outdated laptop computer.
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On this information we’ll current you with the right way to set up ChromeOS Flex whereas protecting your present working system put in, or putting in ChromeOS Flex as your new working system. It is fully 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 essential to know what Chrome OS Flex is. ChromeOS Flex is a browser-based working system, just like what you will discover on any commonplace Chromebook, which implies you typically want entry to the Web and browser-based purposes. If you happen to’re completely satisfied to stay to on-line providers resembling 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.
Simply because it is browser-based does not imply 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.
What you may’t do is set up apps onto your laptop computer itself. There is not any official Google Play Retailer assist as the entire level about ChromeOS Flex is for it to be easy and simple to run. Simply because it is browser-based does not imply 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 price checking along with your particular apps, although, as some cannot work offline, resembling Microsoft 365.
The right way to set up ChromeOS Flex in your laptop computer
It isn’t exhausting, however does take a while
To begin with, you will must create a USB installer utilizing an 8GB or bigger USB flash drive — comply with these steps:
- 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 deal with bar on the prime.
- Set up the Chromebook Recovery Utility extension.
- Join your USB flash drive after which run the extension by clicking on the extensions icon once more and deciding on the extension within the dropdown record.
- As soon as you’ve got opened the Chrome Restoration Utility, choose ChromeOS Flex in each dropdown menus. That is the model it’s essential to set up on a laptop computer. Now’s the time to again up any knowledge you want in your USB flash drive too, as this course of will wipe it.
- It is essential to verify in case you’re putting in ChromeOS Flex to the right drive. This system exhibits the make, mannequin and capability of the drive, so make certain it matches your USB flash drive. (For instance, when you have a 16GB Samsung USB flash drive, ensure that’s what you choose to flash ChromeOS Flex to, in any other case you may wipe your laptop’s exhausting drive.)
- After deciding on your drive, the utility will start to flash the mandatory recordsdata to it. The method will take a number of moments after it begins.
- As soon as it is full, depart your USB flash drive related 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
Together with your USB installer made, now it is time to put it to make use of. To take action, you will 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 secret is totally different relying on the laptop computer producer, however you will discover an inventory of them here. For Mac customers, it is determined by when you have an Intel Mac or an Apple Silicon Mac. Yow will discover the proper directions here.
No matter platform, as quickly because the display goes black after clicking restart, faucet the boot menu key or the correct key mixture each second until the boot menu display seems. Well-liked examples are F12 for Dell and Lenovo or Esc for HP. Your handbook or a Google search will reveal the important thing to your laptop computer if it isn’t within the record. As soon as within the boot menu, choose your USB flash drive from the record and your laptop computer ought to boot into ChromeOS Flex.
Alternatively, you may change the boot system in your laptop computer’s BIOS. Once more there is a particular key you will want to do that, often F2, F10 or Del. In contrast to the boot menu key choices, the BIOS choice is not going to reset on the subsequent restart and can proceed in addition into ChromeOS Flex until you modify it again.
The beauty of ChromeOS Flex is that you just’re in a position to run it from the USB flash drive first earlier than putting in it to your laptop computer
Attempt ChromeOS Flex first
Trial on USB drive to present you peace of thoughts
The beauty of 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 may simply unplug your USB flash drive and go straight again to your earlier working system resembling Home windows. Nevertheless, in case you do intend to make use of it long run, it is price putting in it to your laptop computer straight as you will see higher efficiency. You’ll be able to nonetheless strive it first, although, as you may totally set up it utilizing the USB installer at any time.
If you wish to strive it for a number of days and intend to restart your PC throughout that point, you would possibly need to change your default boot system in your laptop computer’s BIOS as defined within the earlier step, in any other case every time you restart you will must enter the boot menu.
Use ChromeOS Flex as your predominant working system
If you happen to do not need to maintain any of your packages or knowledge or your earlier working system need to use ChromeOS Flex as an alternative, you may choose Set up ChromeOS Flex from the primary set up display or by clicking on Set up ChromeOS Flex on the backside of your display once you subsequent boot out of your USB installer.
Putting in ChromeOS Flex onto your laptop computer’s exhausting disk or SSD will imply it feels extra responsive as it’s going to possible be sooner than operating it off your USB flash drive. Putting in it’s going to wipe your laptop computer’s storage, although, so be sure you again up something it’s essential to maintain.
You are able to go
Putting in ChromeOS Flex to your laptop computer takes only a minute or two and as soon as it is accomplished, you may take away your USB flash drive and use it for different issues once more.
FAQ
Q: Can I set up ChromeOS Flex on any laptop computer?
As long as the laptop computer is newer than 2010, it ought to meet the minimal specs.
Q: What apps can I exploit?
Nearly something that may run in an internet browser with an Web connection, resembling 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 may’t set up software program.
Q: Do I’ve to delete Home windows?
No. You’ll be able to run ChromeOS Flex off your USB flash drive to strive it out, however it’s 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 will have an 8GB or bigger USB flash drive.
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