Here we can see, “How to Install Chrome OS on Any PC and Turn It Into a Chromebook”
Want to make a Chromebook out of any old computer? Although Google does not provide official Chrome OS builds for devices other than official Chromebooks, there are ways to install the open-source Chromium OS software or a similar operating system.
Because they’re all simple to use, you can test them out entirely on a USB drive. It is not necessary to install them on your computer.
Should You Really Do This?
Chromebooks are designed to run Chrome OS. Chromebooks are simple, lightweight devices that receive updates directly from Google. Chromebooks are about the whole package of a computer with a simple operating system, not just Chrome OS.
It’s also possible that not all of your computer’s hardware will work with the operating systems listed below, whereas Chromebook hardware will undoubtedly work with Chrome OS.
However, you might want to install a browser-focused operating system on some old PC hardware you have lying around—perhaps it used to run Windows XP, and you’d like to upgrade to something more secure. Here are some ideas for how to go about it.
Chromium OS (or Neverware CloudReady)
Google’s Chrome OS is based on the Chromium OS open-source project. Neverware CloudReady is a company that takes open-source code and turns it into a product. Google doesn’t offer builds of Chromium OS that you can install yourself.
- Neverware sells CloudReady directly to schools and businesses who want to run Chrome OS on their existing PCs. CloudReady is essentially Chromium OS with a few additional management features and mainstream hardware support.
- CloudReady is also available for free for home users from Neverware. It’s essentially Chromium OS that’s been tweaked to work on existing PCs. You won’t get some of the extra features Google adds to Chrome OS, such as the ability to run Android apps, because it’s based on Chromium OS. On some websites, certain multimedia and DRM features may not work.
- While this isn’t Google’s official version of Chrome OS, it is better and more well-supported than previous enthusiast-created solutions. It even updates to Neverware’s latest CloudReady builds, though these tend to lag behind the latest versions of Chrome OS because Neverware has to customise them.
- Neverware keeps track of which devices are officially supported and certified to work with CloudReady. It doesn’t matter if your computer isn’t on this list; there’s a good chance it will still work. However, as with a Chromebook designed for Chrome OS, there’s no guarantee that everything will work flawlessly.
- Before you install Neverware CloudReady on a computer, you should probably give it a try. All you’ll need is an 8 GB or 16 GB USB drive, as well as a computer that already has Google Chrome installed. To create a CloudReady USB drive and boot it in a live environment, follow our instructions.
Give Neverware a try, and if you like it and it works well on your computer, you can install it by booting it up, selecting “install CloudReady” from the tray in the bottom-right corner of the screen. For more information, see the official Neverware CloudReady installation guide.
Alternatively: Try a Lightweight Linux Desktop
- Chrome is now officially supported on Linux by Google. Any lightweight Linux distribution will suffice, providing a minimal desktop to run Chrome—or another browser such as Firefox.
- You can install a Linux distribution with a lightweight desktop environment—or any desktop environment, really—and use Chrome on that instead of trying to install the open-source version of Chrome OS or a Linux distribution designed to look like Chrome OS.
- Lubuntu, for example, is a great choice if you want a lightweight Linux desktop that will run on an older computer. Any desktop, however, will suffice. Check out our list of the best Linux distributions for beginners to find one that suits your needs.
- If you’re looking for a basic desktop environment to browse on, Linux distributions are a great choice. They’re also a great way to give any old computers running Windows XP or Windows Vista a free upgrade to a modern operating system with security updates and an up-to-date browser. Netflix is now available in Chrome on Linux. It doesn’t require any dirty hacks; it just works.
- It’s as simple as installing Neverware CloudReady once you’ve chosen a Linux distribution. Make a bootable USB drive for your Linux distribution, boot from it, and you’ll be able to try out the Linux environment without having to mess with your computer’s software.
You can install it on your computer directly from the live environment if you so desire. On some modern PCs, you may need to disable Secure Boot to boot some Linux distributions. Of course, you can’t make a Chromebook out of any old computer. They won’t receive Chrome OS updates directly from Google, and they won’t be as fast to boot. It won’t necessarily have the same battery life as a Chromebook if you’re using a laptop. However, if you’re looking for something similar, these are the best ways to get close.
Conclusion
I hope you found this information helpful. Please fill out the form below if you have any questions or comments.
User Questions:
- What are the disadvantages of using a Chromebook?
Another reason Chromebooks are problematic is that the Chrome OS is incompatible with much other software, including Windows-native applications. Graphics design software like Photoshop, for example, is frequently incompatible with Chromebooks, making such projects nearly impossible.
- Is it possible to use Word on a Chromebook?
You can use the web to access your Microsoft 365 apps, such as Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote, OneDrive, and Outlook. Create, edit, and collaborate on documents and files using the web apps.
- Does Chrome OS outperform Windows?
A Chromebook running Google’s Chrome OS is a more simplified and optimised experience. In essence, a Chromebook can be thought of as a dedicated Chrome browser running on secure hardware. It can be hundreds of dollars less expensive than a comparable Windows PC, even with the same processor!
- Create a modern Chrome OS device out of any computer, laptop, old Chromebook, or old Chromebox.
Turn any computer, laptop, old Chromebook, or old Chromebox in to a modern chrome OS device from chromeos
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