No Cap, I used to have an old HP Pavillion where the case had to be pried apart for servicing and there was a screw on the Battery connector that would keep the computer from starting unless it was put back after battery removal. They work fine without batteries, but not without the screw. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
The new chromebooks need special cables to unlock, either you have the skills and supplies to build a cable and adapter board or you buy a cable from a random company that is rarely in stock
I didn’t think it too hard but it ended up being kind of fruitless, those things have almost no harddeive and I mostly did it to fuck around with Linux. Chromebooks, at least that one, had something like 16gbs and equally weak CPU to match (granted it might have changed since then but woof.)
The whole point of a chrome book is to push you to use Google’s online services. I think you are still better off if you can do that with Linux running the machine.
Same, I did this back in college because my Windows laptop shit out and I couldn’t afford another proper computer. I ended up duct taping an external drive to the back.
Right. If it’s not getting updates, then it’s only a matter of time before it has a critical security vulnerability. If not Linux, then what? Will GNU Hurd run on it?
I don’t usually like all the Linux posts on Lemmy, but this is 100% the correct answer here. The computer will likely run a lot better if you do everything right!
Install Linux and have updates for the Rest of your life. And more performance.
Edit: typo
I have a Chromebook and it’s ridiculous how difficult they made it to install another OS.
I eventually did, but I needed to get something to flash a third party boatloader and at first I was told my laptop was not supported.
But getting an actual Linux distro has been so much better than ChomeOS.
Back when I had a Chromebook I actually had to open it up and remove a screw to be able to do it.
The droid restraining bolt?
Yeah. Write protect screw.
No Cap, I used to have an old HP Pavillion where the case had to be pried apart for servicing and there was a screw on the Battery connector that would keep the computer from starting unless it was put back after battery removal. They work fine without batteries, but not without the screw. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
The new chromebooks need special cables to unlock, either you have the skills and supplies to build a cable and adapter board or you buy a cable from a random company that is rarely in stock
Wow that’s even worse.
I didn’t think it too hard but it ended up being kind of fruitless, those things have almost no harddeive and I mostly did it to fuck around with Linux. Chromebooks, at least that one, had something like 16gbs and equally weak CPU to match (granted it might have changed since then but woof.)
The whole point of a chrome book is to push you to use Google’s online services. I think you are still better off if you can do that with Linux running the machine.
Same, I did this back in college because my Windows laptop shit out and I couldn’t afford another proper computer. I ended up duct taping an external drive to the back.
thankfully, once you get a proper UEFI bios on it, it’s free, forever.
But yeah, i agree, total bullshit how much work they put into not using UEFI from the get go lmao.
It wouldn’t be lemmy if this was not the top comment
It’s a Chromebook. That’s just the real answer to OP’s issue regardless of where they ask about it.
Right. If it’s not getting updates, then it’s only a matter of time before it has a critical security vulnerability. If not Linux, then what? Will GNU Hurd run on it?
I don’t usually like all the Linux posts on Lemmy, but this is 100% the correct answer here. The computer will likely run a lot better if you do everything right!
It already has Linux, that’s the issue.