Key Takeaways
- Simply revitalize your previous laptop computer with ChromeOS Flex as an alternative of shopping for a brand new one — it is free and easy.
- Preserve your unique Home windows or Mac system and information whereas testing ChromeOS Flex — switching again is simple.
- ChromeOS Flex, a browser-based OS, presents snappy efficiency on most funds laptops made post-2010.
In case you have an growing old laptop or MacBook and have seen it is turn out to be exceedingly gradual 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, which means even a funds laptop computer purchased years in the past will really feel snappy and responsive.
When you do not prefer it, you may merely change again to Home windows precisely as you left it in just a few seconds.
Putting in ChromeOS Flex is simple. You’ll be able to even maintain your unique Home windows or Mac installations, packages and information if you wish to strive it first. When you do not prefer it, you may merely change again to Home windows precisely as you left it in just a few seconds. In fact, for those who’re completely offered on the brand new OS, then you too can take away Home windows to unencumber house, creating your personal private Chromebook utilizing your previous laptop computer.
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On this information we’ll current you with find out how to set up ChromeOS Flex whereas maintaining your current working system put in, or putting in ChromeOS Flex as your new working system. It is utterly 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 vital to grasp what Chrome OS Flex is. ChromeOS Flex is a browser-based working system, much like what you may discover on any normal Chromebook, which suggests you typically want entry to the Web and browser-based functions. When you’re pleased 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 doesn’t suggest your laptop computer might be unusable for those who’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 no 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 doesn’t suggest your laptop computer might be unusable for those who’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 way to set up ChromeOS Flex in your laptop computer
It is not onerous, however does take a while
To start out with, you may have to create a USB installer utilizing an 8GB or bigger USB flash drive — comply with these steps:
- In your pc, use Google’s Chrome browser to access the Chrome Web Store by clicking on the extensions icon to the suitable 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 choosing the extension within the dropdown checklist.
- As soon as you have 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 vital to test for those who’re putting in ChromeOS Flex to the proper drive. This system exhibits the make, mannequin and capability of the drive, so be sure it matches your USB flash drive. (For instance, you probably have a 16GB Samsung USB flash drive, ensure that’s what you choose to flash ChromeOS Flex to, in any other case you can wipe your pc’s onerous drive.)
- After choosing your drive, the utility will start to flash the mandatory information to it. The method will take just a few moments after it begins.
- As soon as it is full, go away your USB flash drive linked and restart your PC.
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Inform your laptop computer besides 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 may want to inform your laptop computer or pc to make use of the USB set up besides off of utilizing the boot menu, which requires hitting the suitable key, or mixture of keys, as your pc restarts. The boot menu key’s totally different relying on the laptop computer producer, however you’ll find an inventory of them here. For Mac customers, it relies on you probably have an Intel Mac or an Apple Silicon Mac. You could find 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. Common examples are F12 for Dell and Lenovo or Esc for HP. Your guide or a Google search will reveal the important thing on your laptop computer if it isn’t within the checklist. As soon as within the boot menu, choose your USB flash drive from the checklist 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 may want to do that, normally F2, F10 or Del. Not like the boot menu key choices, the BIOS choice is not going to reset on the following restart and can proceed besides 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 provide 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 for those who do not prefer it, you may simply unplug your USB flash drive and go straight again to your earlier working system resembling Home windows. Nonetheless, for those who do intend to make use of it long run, it is price putting in it to your laptop computer instantly as you may see higher efficiency. You’ll be able to nonetheless strive it first, although, as you may absolutely set up it utilizing the USB installer at any time.
If you wish to strive it for just a few 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 may have to enter the boot menu.
Use ChromeOS Flex as your foremost working system
When you 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 onerous disk or SSD will imply it feels extra responsive as it is going to possible be quicker than operating it off your USB flash drive. Putting in it is going to wipe your laptop computer’s storage, although, so be sure to 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 finished, 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 is going to run quicker if put in instantly in your laptop computer.
Q: What measurement USB flash drive do I want to put in ChromeOS Flex?
You will want an 8GB or bigger USB flash drive.
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