You don't demand to purchase a Chromebook to bask the features of Google's desktop operating arrangement (OS). In fact, all you lot demand is a working reckoner in addition to a USB Drive.
Google doesn't officially offering a way to endeavor it out, but developers convey figured out ways for you lot to experiment amongst the open-source OS. This method industrial plant whether you lot are running Windows, macOS, or Linux. And no, you lot won't survive overwriting your existing OS.
We volition basically create a bootable USB drive, loaded amongst the Chromium OS disk image. But you lot volition demand a few things earlier you lot start.
10 Tools to Make a Bootable USB from an ISO FileA bootable USB is the best way to install an operating system. Besides the ISO in addition to a USB drive, you lot demand a tool to ready it all up. That's where nosotros come upwards in.READ MORE- a working reckoner amongst a USB port
- a USB crusade of at to the lowest degree 4 GB capacity
- a 7-Zip extractor: 7-Zip for Windows | Keka for macOS | p7zip for Linux
- Etcher ikon burner for Windows, macOS, or Linux
Note: The USB crusade volition survive completely erased inwards the installation process. If you lot convey whatever valuable information on the drive, delight relieve it elsewhere.
Step 1: Download the Latest Chromium OS image
Google doesn't convey an official Chromium OS create that you lot tin download. The best choice root is Arnold The Bat.
Download: The latest Chromium OS daily build
Step 2: Extract the Zipped Image
You volition straightaway convey a 7-Zip file on your hard drive. Extract this file using i of the 7-Zip apps mentioned above.
Step 3: Format the USB Drive
Plug the USB crusade into a port and format it equally FAT32. The procedure is simplest on Windows, but macOS in addition to Linux aren't hard either.
For macOS users, the built-in Disk Utility tin format it equally FAT32. If you lot encounter it labeled equally "MS-DOS FAT" instead, don't worry, it's the same thing.
If the Windows or Mac methods are confusing or overwhelming for you, therefore you lot tin also use the SD Association's official Card Formatter apps.
Download: SD Card Formatter for Windows (Free) or for Mac (Free)
For Linux users, nosotros recommend the GParted app. If you're comfortable amongst the musical rhythm out / Terminal commands, use our guide on formatting external storage on Linux.
How to Write, Format in addition to Manage an SD Card inwards LinuxThere are multiple ways to configure an SD card inwards Linux, either from the ascendancy work or using a graphical application. Here's how you lot exercise it.READ MOREDownload: GParted for Linux
For added comfort, when asked to holler the novel drive, hit it the holler "Chrome".
Step 4: Download in addition to Install Etcher
There are plenty of software tools to install images to external drives, but nosotros consider Etcher is the best of them. It's cross-platform, which agency it industrial plant the same way on Windows, macOS, or whatever Linux distro. More importantly, it validates the burning procedure i.e. i time it's done creating the ikon on the USB drive, it volition verify that everything is right.
Download: Ethcher for Windows, Mac, or Linux (Free)
Step 5: Run Etcher in addition to Install the Image
By now, you lot should convey a fully formatted USB drive, named "Chrome", plugged into i port of the reckoner (as shown inwards measuring three). You volition also convey an unzipped ikon file of the latest Chromium OS (as shown inwards steps i in addition to two). And you lot convey Etcher installed on your reckoner (as shown inwards measuring four). Start Etcher.
- Click Select Image and browse to where the Chromium OS ikon file is. Add it inwards Etcher.
- Click Select Drive and guide the Chrome USB Drive you lot convey created.
- Click Flash to stimulate the procedure of installing the ikon in addition to validating the installation.
Once Etcher finishes, this volition survive a bootable USB crusade amongst Chromium OS.
Step 6: Reboot Your Computer in addition to Enter Boot Options
"Boot" is the procedure of choosing the OS. Every reckoner lets you lot select which crusade it should boot the OS from, whether it's a hard drive, a USB drive, or fifty-fifty a DVD drive.
For a Windows or Linux PC: Different computers convey dissimilar BIOS settings. Usually, the Boot Options card has the keyboard shortcut F5, F8, or F12. If you're unsure, you lot can enter the BIOS settings of your PC.
How To Enter The BIOS On Your ComputerInside the BIOS you lot tin alter basic reckoner settings, similar the boot order. The exact fundamental you lot demand to strike depends on your hardware. We convey compiled a listing of strategies & keys to enter...READ MOREFor a Mac: As presently the Mac shuts downward in addition to restarts, press in addition to concur the Option key. You volition survive doing this patch it's a dark screen, but that's okay. Keep belongings it till you lot encounter the boot menu, which lets you lot guide betwixt a Macintosh hard crusade or the USB crusade you lot convey plugged inwards (usually denoted equally "EFI").
Step 7: Boot Into Chrome OS
Choose the USB crusade inwards the boot menu, hitting enter, in addition to the reckoner volition boot from the drive. You are straightaway experiencing all the glory of Chrome OS, without affecting your master copy hard crusade in addition to OS. You won't convey whatever trouble, it's unproblematic plenty that Chromebooks are ideal for elderly people or equally a kickoff reckoner for kids.
Don't worry, this setup is alone during the kickoff fourth dimension you lot boot up. Whenever you lot run it inwards the future, it volition instruct straight to the login screen.
Do You Run whatever OS From a USB?
The take in of running an operating arrangement from a USB crusade has unopen to merit. After all, you're basically carrying your PC amongst you, in addition to are create to plow whatever reckoner into your own.
But is that convenience worth using an OS on a USB stick regularly? Do you lot run whatever operating arrangement from a USB drive? Would you lot rather run Chrome OS from a computer?
How to Turn Any PC or Laptop Into a Chromebook or ChromeboxWith this step-by-step tutorial, you lot tin plow nearly whatever reckoner into a Chromebook or Chromebox amongst CloudReady.READ MOREOriginally published past times Jorge Sierra on 23 Nov 2009.
