Install ChromeOS Flex (CloudReady 2.0) on a Laptop or Desktop
22#ChromeOS #CloudReady #Chromebook #Chromebox
Full steps can be found at https://i12bretro.github.io/tutorials/0720.html
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What is ChromeOS Flex?
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Try the cloud-first, fast, easy-to-manage, and secure Chrome OS for PCs and Macs. Chrome OS Flex is a free and sustainable way to modernize devices you already own. It’s easy to deploy across your fleet or simply try it to see what a cloud-first OS has to offer. - https://chromeenterprise.google/os/chromeosflex/
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Things You Will Need
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- A USB flash drive, at least 16 GB https://amzn.to/3wkR5ju | https://amzn.to/3qkrJ1p | https://amzn.to/3Nhu9b9
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Creating the Installation Media
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PRO TIP: I repeatedly had issues booting the flash drive created by the Chromebook Recovery Utility. I found that the utility downloads ChromeOS Flex to the user's local temp directory (%temp% or %userprofile%\AppData\Local\Temp). Browse through the scoped_dir directories to find the compressed ChromeOS Flex image. I grabbed the file and used Balena Etcher to write it to a flash drive to correct the booting issue
01. Open a Chromium based browser, install the Chromebook Recovery Utility extension
02. In Brave Browser, open a new tab and navigate to https://chrome.google.com/webstore/category/extensions
03. Search for Chromebook Recovery
04. Click on Chromebook Recovery Utility
05. Click the Add to Brave button ≫ Click Add Extension to confirm
06. After the extension installs, click the puzzle piece next to the hamburger menu ≫ Click Chromebook Recovery Utility to launch it
07. Inside the Chromebook Recovery Utility click the Get started button
08. Click the Select a model from a list link
09. Select Google Chrome OS Flex from the manufacturer dropdown
10. Select Chrome OS Flex from the product dropdown ≫ Click Continue
11. Select the USB flash device to write ChromeOS Flex to ≫ Click Continue ≫ Click Create now
12. Wait while Chrome OS Flex is written and verified
13. Once the flash drive is setup, remove it and plug it into a USB port on the target device
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Installing ChromeOS Flex
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01. Power on the target device and boot to the ChromeOS Flex flash drive
01. After the Chrome splash screen displays, click the Get started button
02. Click Install CloudyReady 2.0 to select it ≫ Click Next
03. Click Install CloudyReady 2.0
04. Click Install to confirm erasing the hard drive
05. After about two minutes the installation will complete and the PC will reboot
06. Remove the USB flash drive during the reboot to avoid booting back into the installation media
07. Once ChromeOS has rebooted, click the Get started button
08. ChromeOS should detect an Ethernet connection, otherwise connect to a Wifi network ≫ Click Next
09. Uncheck the Help improve ChromeOS option ≫ Click Accept and continue
10. At the Who's using this Chrome device screen, select You ≫ Click Next
11. Login with Google account credentials
12. At the Sync your Chrome device screen, click Accept and continue
13. Uncheck the Let Google use your hardware data option ≫ Click Accept and continue
14. Select whether to use Google Assistant
15. Select whether to connect to your phone
16. Click Get started to complete setup
17. Welcome to ChromeOS Flex
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