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Install Chrome OS (Chromium OS) On Your Old Laptop PC or Macbook

July 4, 2016 By Robby Payne View Comments

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In this video we take a look at Neverware’s CloudReady software, a custom build of Chromium OS that feels and behaves very, very similarly to the Chrome OS we see on officially licensed devices. Neverware’s approach is unique in that they have a huge list of devices that are supported, the service is free for individual users, and the entire OS can run quite well from a USB drive.

The steps for getting this going are really quite simple:

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  • Download CloudReady
  • Download the Chrome Recovery Utility from the Chrome Web Store
  • Upon running the Recovery Utility, click the gear up top and select ‘Use Local Image’
  • Select the ZIP file you downloaded from neverware.com (CloudReady)
  • Select the 8GB – 16GB USB you want to use (needs to be plugged in)
  • Write the image and wait patiently
  • Insert the USB into the computer you wish to boot Chromium with
  • That’s it!  You may need to do a bit of research on how to get your old device to boot from USB
  • An additional step would be to fully install CloudReady and overwrite your existing OS which can be done from the settings panel (click the clock in the bottom right corner) with a single click once you’ve booted into Chromium OS.

It’s fairly simple, and if you want to see it up and running or want to see the steps done in detail, watch the full video above. Hope this helps some of you bring some life to your aging PC or Macbook!

Filed Under: All Stories, ChromeOS, Featured, Guides and How-To's

About Robby Payne

As the founder of Chrome Unboxed, Robby has been reviewing Chromebooks for over a decade. His passion for ChromeOS and the devices it runs on drives his relentless pursuit to find the best Chromebooks, best services, and best tips for those looking to adopt ChromeOS and those who've already made the switch.

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