Computer not running Windows 11? Google’s ChromeOS Flex is a solid alternative

Google issues you a periodic reminder that you’re not tied to Microsoft’s operating system if you own a computer. In fact, the search giant is making it easier than ever to switch to it ChromeOS Flex operating system.

As part of a New partnership with Back MarketA revamped electronics company, Google now offers ChromeOS Flex USB kits to make installing its premium operating system easy on PCs and Macs both.

Whether you are intentionally avoiding a Windows 11 update Or you are one of them Over 500 million computer owners With a computer too old to upgrade the operating system, my Windows 10 PC hasn’t received an update since last October when Microsoft has ended its support. (Microsoft Extended security updates The program will continue to push critical updates until next October for $30, a fee I doubt many people clinging to an old computer are willing to pay.)

When your operating system stops getting updates, you… Facing the barrel of a security nightmare — No other vulnerabilities will be patched, leaving your system (and potentially sensitive data) vulnerable to bad actors. Google’s ChromeOS Flex consistently supports devices older than Windows 11, which could make it a good alternative until you upgrade to Another computer.

The new Back Market USB kit is Available now for $3Or you can Download ChromeOS Flex for free Follow the simple instructions at the end of this article.

A quick history lesson of ChromeOS Flex

Google’s ChromeOS isn’t available to install on a laptop or desktop like Windows or Linux, but the next best thing is Google’s ChromeOS. ChromeOS Flex operating system. Previously known as Neverware CloudReadyThe operating system is primarily designed for businesses and education. But ChromeOS Flex is free for personal use, and it’s extremely lightweight, making it great for breathing new life into a PC struggling with the demands of Windows, MacOS, or Linux.

Google acquired Neverware in December 2020The result was ChromeOS Flex. Although CloudReady was good, Flex was much closer to the experience you’d get with a Chromebook or other ChromeOS device. These include the official Chrome browser, support for Family Link (or school-issued) accounts, and Phone Hub, which lets you connect to your Android phone to view notifications and share files between your phone and laptop. The only thing you can’t get is access to the Google Play Store and Android apps.

ChromeOS Flex works well even on older devices. That’s why it’s a good option for reusing a laptop that can no longer run current versions of Windows, MacOS, or Linux. However, Google ensures that Flex only works on hardware Growing list of supported models. If your model isn’t certified, it doesn’t mean it won’t work. It means just that Full functionality and performance are not taken for granted.

You choose: trial run or full installation

One of the best features of ChromeOS Flex is that you can boot it from a USB flash drive or SD card to test it first without completely overwriting your existing operating system. For best performance, running Flex full-time from a flash drive is not recommended, but it will allow you to see if it works for your needs.

Install ChromeOS Flex Fast and painless. The first step is to gather everything you need:

• USB thumb drive or SD card 8GB or larger

• A Windows, Mac, or Linux computer to install ChromeOS Flex on

Note that the installation ChromeOS Flex will scan your entire hard drive. You should back up any important files first. You’ll also need a ChromeOS device, a Windows PC, or a Mac with the current version of the Chrome browser installed. This will be used to create the ChromeOS Flex USB installer, and does not need to be the same device you plan to install it on. The entire flash drive will also be erased when the installer is created.

To run ChromeOS Flex, the target laptop (or desktop) must be Intel or AMD x86-64-bit compatible (newer than 2010 for the best experience), have 4GB or more of RAM, at least 16GB of storage, and you’ll need full administrator access to the BIOS. Once you have everything you need, it’s time to create a USB installer.

• Open a Chrome browser window on your ChromeOS device, Windows PC, or Mac Add the Chromebook Recovery Utility extension via the Chrome Web Store. This is what you will use to create the USB/SD card installer.
• Go to the Chrome extensions list located at the top right of the Chrome browser window (it looks like a little puzzle piece). Click on it, and a drop-down list of extensions will appear. Find Chromebook Recovery Tool in the list and click on it to launch. You may also need to run the utility, which can be done by clicking Manage Extensions at the bottom of the extensions drop-down list.

• When you run the Chromebook Recovery Tool, you’ll be asked to select the Chromebook model you’ll be restoring. However, there will be a labeled link Select a model from the list In the dialog box. Click this link, and it is Select the manufacturer The drop-down menu that appears, Select Google Chrome OS Flex. Below that dropdown menu is another tab Select a product Which you will choose from Chrome Flex operating system.
• Next, insert the flash drive or SD card into the device you used to create the installer, select it as the target drive, and then click Create now. The build process takes up to 20 minutes, but the build was done in half that time. Once the installation is complete, the drive can be ejected and ready for use.

You’re almost done. It’s time to get the laptop you want to turn into a Chromebook. Make sure to turn off your laptop and insert your thumb drive or SD card for the ChromeOS Flex installer.

The next step is to boot the laptop from the thumb drive instead of the internal storage drive. This requires you to press the boot key while turning on the laptop. Boot keys vary by manufacturer. For example, on a MacBook Air, the boot key is the Option key. Google has it List of boot keys by major manufacturers If you are not sure what is for you.

Turn on the laptop, and while it is running, press the boot key to interrupt the boot process. You may need to hold down the key, or press it repeatedly, to enter the boot menu. If done correctly, your laptop should give you the option to select which drive you’d like to boot from: the laptop’s internal drive or a USB drive. Select the USB drive And press He enters.

If you did everything correctly, you’ll see the ChromeOS Flex start screen followed by the Welcome to ChromeOS Flex screen. (If not, retrace your steps using Google installation guide.) From there, you can choose to test and boot the operating system directly from the flash drive or install ChromeOS Flex to internal storage. Doing the latter gives you the best performance; However, it also erases all content from the internal drive, and the original operating system cannot be recovered. If you’re not 100% sure you want to use ChromeOS Flex, try booting it from a USB drive first.

A complete OS installation can take up to 20 minutes (although my MacBook Air took less than 5 minutes). No matter how you turn it on, the setup process is the same. Select a Wi-Fi network, agree to Google’s terms of service, choose whether the Chromebook is for you or a child, and then sign in with your Google Account information.

Well, a Chromebook! At least, close enough for most needs. Performance will depend on what your laptop has. My installation was on Early 2015 MacBook AirIt is much faster than it was with MacOS. The only downside to my model is that the built-in webcam is not supported, but an external USB webcam works fine.

If you have a USB flash drive and an old laptop, it’s definitely worth the minimal effort to test, and again, it’s free.