But how does this differ from a fully-fledged Chrome OS? Chrome OS Vs. The last screen of the signup asks for hardware data sharing:įinally, you’re greeted to the Chrome OS Flex desktop:Ĭhrome OS Flex is essentially a cloud-heavy operating system. Afterward, there is optional sync for Google account settings and setting up Google assistant. Subsequently, you can set the device for your personal use or configure it for your kids.Īt this stage, you are required to sign in with your Google account. Then comes the terms of the agreement and the optional data sharing. The best way to detect an ethernet is to insert the cable before starting the installation process. This will make the Chrome OS Flex sit on the USB occupying the space left after the installation. But you can try the second option and use it on your main workstation if you don’t have any spare device. Installing it on the hard disk is recommended for optimal performance. Or, you can click Try it first to use this on the USB itself.
Setting Up Chrome OS FlexĪfter booting from the USB stick, the first thing you’ll see is the Chrome logo followed by Welcome to CloudReady 2.0, which is nothing but Chrome OS Flex.Īfterward, you can install CloudReady 2.0 by erasing the hard disk if you intend to use it as the main OS on the subject machine.
If that’s an issue, please search How to boot from USB in manufacturer_name to find related tutorials on YouTube.
Similarly, my assembled PC has an ASUS motherboard that supports pressing F2 or DEL to enter into BIOS utility. For instance, HP has ESC to launch Startup Menu and then F9 to enter boot device options. The process will take some time for the Chrome Flex OS to download and verify the recovery image.Īfter creating the live disk, put it in your intended device for the trial, and boot up in the BIOS section.Įvery manufacturer has specific keys for this purpose.
Anyways, you can proceed with these steps: Please excuse the screen recorder for faulty tracing of the mouse pointer. Once downloaded, click on the icon, insert the USB stick, and follow the onscreen instructions. This is a browser extension available on Chrome Web Store. Installation is extremely straightforward with the Chromebook Recovery Utility. Even the WiFi issue wasn’t there this time.Ĭonclusively, it won’t hurt to try Chrome OS Flex if you’ve got an 8GB pen drive and around 40 minutes to spare. In addition, this ran smoothly on my other laptop, the least powered of the lot, with a dual-core Intel Pentium B950 and just 2GB of RAM. Notably, I had also succeeded in running Chrome OS Flex on my assembled desktop. It worked fine with minor hiccups like the WiFi not working, so I had to get by with the ethernet.
Processor/Graphics Cards Not Older than 2010.Īlthough these are the mentioned requirements, they aren’t set in stone.įor instance, I installed Chrome OS Flex on one of my oldies, HP Pavilion dv6-3130tx that came with 3GB RAM, which isn’t on the certified model’s list.These are some of the suggested requirements: Even certified models can experience some issues. And with that, CloudReady turned into Chrome OS Flex.Īs of this writing, Chrome OS Flex is in beta. And apparently, Google had some plans with its Neverware investment in 2017.įinally, in December 2020, Google made a move and acquired Neverware.
That was an interesting proposition for Google for pushing its Chrome OS to the masses without any hardware purchase.
CloudReady had a free version for personal use and paid enterprise editions. The motive behind CloudReady was to revive old Windows and Macs with an easy transition into a Chrome OS-like environment. This was almost similar to using a Chromebook with some limitations. They had developed CloudReady, an operating system based on open-source Chromium OS. Turning old PCs into nifty Chromebooks was originally the idea of NYC-based Neverware. You can use this cloud-based OS with just a USB stick or the main operating system. Chrome OS Flex promises quick loading times, excellent battery life, and performance boosts. The primary targets are old computers running Windows and Mac.