[User-Submitted Instructions] Installing CloudReady in a ChromeBook

NOTE 1: This guide is not written or endorsed by Neverware. Neverware does not have any support or plans to support running CloudReady on official Chrome OS devices at this time.

NOTE 2: Neverware nor me are not responsible for any harm caused to your Chromebook. If you brick your Chromebook it is your own responsibility.

NOTE 3: This will only work in Intel Based Chromebooks, this means if your Chromebook has no Intel Chip this guide won't work.

To install any new operating system onto your ChromeOS device, you must first enable Developer Mode. Many models also require updating firmware, depending on the install type.

To determine what preparation steps your device requires, you will need to know your device's Hardware ID. This is available from inside ChromeOS by navigating to chrome://system, where it's called hardware_class.

STEP 1: ENABLE DEVELOPER MODE

WARNING: Enabling Developer Mode will erase all user data in ChromeOS. If you have locally-stored data, back it up first. Cloud data will not be lost.

1. With device shut down, press Esc+F3(refresh)+Power to boot into Recovery Mode
2. You will see the Recovery Mode boot screen, informing you that "ChromeOS is damaged or missing" (although it is not)
3. Press [Ctrl+D] to enable Developer Mode, then follow confirmation steps (usually just pressing enter)
4. Your machine will reboot to a white screen which says "OS verification is OFF". This is Developer Mode.
5. Enable Legacy Mode booting (you can skip this step if updating firmware, since it will be done automatically for you)
   1. Press [Ctrl+D] to boot ChromeOS in Developer Mode
   2. Configure WiFi if necessary, and log in to Chrome (Guest account is fine)
   3. Press [Ctrl+Alt+T] to get a ChromeOS terminal ("crosh") window
   4. At the prompt, enter shell
   5. At the chronos@localhost / $ prompt, run the following:
      • sudo crossystem dev_boot_legacy=1

STEP 2: FLASH FIRMWARE (IF REQUIRED OF DESIRED)

Here's where you'll need to know your Hardware ID and CPU Family.

• Sandy Bridge models require custom firmware (exception: LINK)
• Bay Trail and Braswell models require custom firmware
• Haswell, Broadwell, and Skylake models can benefit from custom firmware; some models require it depending on install type.

Custom firmware (for many models) is available in multiple types and from multiple sources.

NOTE: There are different custom firmware options available, depending on your Chromebook/box model class, and the features you require: You can check them in the picture at the end of this post.

NOTE: If you decide to modify your Firmware you must know you won't be able to install your original firmware, this means, you won't be able to run Chrome OS again on your Chromebook. You will be able to install any other Operative System on your Chromebook (Chromium, CloudReady, Linux, Windows).

Step 2a: Disable write-protection (if required)

Some types of firmware update (BOOT_STUB and Full ROM) require disabling firmware write-protection on your device. Some models also have conductive stickers, and a few older models have a jumper. The location and appearance of the WP screw/sticker/jumper vary between models, but in all cases you will need to open your device.

A web search for "<model or hardware id> chromebook disable write-protect" will often return detailed instructions, with photos, for your model.

Step 2b: Install/Update Firmware

You can install/update your firmware from the ChromeOS terminal, or from a running Linux system. These instructions describe the process from the ChromeOS terminal.

1. Boot into ChromeOS by pressing [Ctrl+D] at the "OS verification is OFF" Developer Mode boot screen
2. Configure WiFi if necessary, and log in to Chrome (Guest account is fine)
3. Press [Ctrl+Alt+T] to get a ChromeOS terminal ("crosh") window
4. At the prompt, enter shell
5. Decide which firmware you want to install.
6. At the chronos@localhost / $ prompt, run the command to flash your firmware. These commands are current as of this writing, but be sure to check the developer's site for any changes.
7. Run MrChromebox's Firmware Utility Script (developer's site)
   • cd; curl -LO https://mrchromebox.tech/firmware-util.sh && sudo bash firmware-util.sh
8. Then follow the on-screen instructions to install your chosen firmware type

STEP 3: Install CloudReady (Original - Flint OS Installation in HDD)

1. Enter the terminal

After the GUI of CloudReady has been loaded, press Ctrl+Alt+F2 (on some machines, including the Apple Macs the keys are Fn+Ctrl+Alt+F2) to enter the tty command line interface. If needed, you can press Ctrl+Alt+F1 (or Fn+Ctrl+Alt+F1) to get back to GUI mode. Alternatively, you can press Ctrl+Alt+t (or Fn+Ctrl+Alt+t) with the Chromium browser launched to enter the Crosh, then enter shell to activate the Crosh shell.

2. Login

CloudReady will ask you for a login name and then a password. The default username and password are both chronos.

3. Determine the target drive

Enter command lsblk to obtain a list of attached physical hard drives recognised by the system. Under normal circumstances, your hard drives will be displayed assdxin the list printed by this command. You need to determine the label of the hard drive you want to install Flint OS to based on the size and the number of partitions, e.g.sda. The following command will use sda.

4. Run installation script

Enter commandsudo /usr/sbin/chromeos-install --dst /dev/sda

You will get asked for sudo password. The installation script will confirm with you once again if you wish to continue and your hard drive will be erased. If this is what you really want, key in Y.

5. Wait for the script to run

Hardware Compatibility