How to install Chrome OS on a PC

Chrome OS is one of the less popular operating systems that has been out for a couple of years. However, it can change an old computer into something that can function with day-to-day activities. Now then, here’s how you do it.

How to install Chrome OS on a PC with Google Play Store support

Requirments

• UEFI support
• A USB flash drive with at least 16GB of storage
• Legacy BIOS is supported but with limitations. You can read it here.
• An Intel-based CPU and GPU (AMD CPU and GPU have been added with support to AMD Ryzen 3XXX and AMD Stoney Ridge Processors)

Downloads

1. To do this, we will be using Linux Mint. You can download it from this page. You can use other Linux versions, however, Linux Mint is exceptionally lightweight.
2. Next, download Rufus for free if you are on Windows.
3. Now you can download the official Chrome OS recovery image from here.
   You must follow this rule for searching for your version based on your CPU.
   “rammus” is the recommended image for devices with 4th generation Intel CPU and newer.
   “samus” is the recommended image for devices with 3rd generation Intel CPU and older.
   “zork” is the image to use for AMD Ryzen 3XXX.
   “grunt” is the image to use for AMD Stoney Ridge.
   If I had an Intel CPU with 4th gen, I would search for Rammus.
4. Now you must download Brunch. It creates a generic Chrome OS image, you can download it from here. Look for the stable build, click “Assets”, and then download the tar.gz file.
5. Now download the install.sh script which installs Chrome OS without typing all the commands. Download it from here.

How to do it

You should remember doing this will wipe your hard drive, so create a backup.

1. Connect your USB flash drive and open Rufus. Click on the “Select” and choose the Linux Mint image. For partition scheme, choose MBR. Now click “Start” and wait for it to finish.
2. When Rufus is done, close it and create a folder called “Chrome OS” on your desktop. Move the install.sh file into the folder.
3. Now right-click on the Brunch file and choose Extract to Brunch… All the files will be extracted in a folder on the desktop.
4. Move all the extracted Brunch files to the Chrome OS folder on the desktop.
5. Extract the Chrome OS recovery image and you will get a folder on the destop. Open it and rename the file to rammus_recovery.bin. If you have downloaded an image, change it. If I used zork, I would call it zork_recovery.bin.
6. Now move the rammus_recovery.bin file to the Chrome OS folder. You should have 6 folders inside of the Chrome OS folder.
7. Move the whole Chrome OS folder to the USB drive that you flashed Linux Mint on.

Boot into Linux Mint

1. Plug the USB flash drive into the PC on which you want to install Chrome OS on. If you are installing the Chrome OS file on the same computer, leave the USB plugged in.
2. Now, restrat your PC and press the boot key continuously to boot into the BIOS menu. If you don’t know the boot key, you can find it from the table above.
3. After entering the BIOS menu, head to the boot menu and select from the Boot list option (if it is not there, move onto the next step)
4. Move to the security tab and disable secure boot. Every BIOS interface is different, so it may differ.
5. Move to Exit and choose Exit Save Changes. You will be asked to choose your boot device. Select the USB drive and hit enter.
6. You will boot into Linux Mint.

Install it

1. Connect to Wi-Fi or Ethernet. The Chrome OS installer will need an internet connection to download missing libraries and dependencies.
2. Open the Home folder on the desktop and move to the file system tab.
3. Click on the search button and type Chrome OS and find the folder we made earlier.
4. Open the folder and right-click inside of the folder to open the Terminal. Type sudo sh install.sh and hit enter. It will download some libraries and dependencies.
5. It will ask you if you want to continue with the installation. Remember, this will delete all of your files. To proceed, type yes and hit enter. It will now install Chrome OS.
6. After the installation is done, open the start menu of Linux Mint located at the bottom-left corner and click on the Turn off button. Choose Shut Down.
7. Remove the USB flash drive and then start your computer. It should boot into a full fledged Chrome OS.

Warning

Google does not allow this, so using this with your primary Google account is risky, as it may be terminated. The Android framework is based on Android 9.