Formulating a plan as to how to make an Acer Chromebook 15 CB5-571-C4G4 into a Linux only laptop

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wish4f4302

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Aug 29, 2017
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My idea is this (and it's still in the early stages of planning) -

Step 1. Purchase this Acer Chromebook.

Step 2. Do some sort of Firmware magic. This is the part I don't really understand 100%. I was directed here - https://wiki.galliumos.org/Firmware

Step 3. Purchase this 32GB m.2 SSD as a replacement and install Linux (distro to be determined)

Step 4. Have a nice little Linux laptop.

Now I know I've either massively oversimplified this process or missed some steps. Probably both, but I do actually have some limited experience with Linux. I've used Crouton to install Linux on an older Chromebook, but I didn't enjoy having to press Control + L at startup. It felt really janky to me and I've always wanted a pure Linux laptop since I know Linux is so much more capable than ChromeOS.

What I don't know is, well 95% of it really. I have a clear goal but don't know how to reach it. So I suppose I'll just write a few questions down and go from there.

1. Do I really even need to get the replacement SSD? Can I purchase the slightly more expensive 32GB Chromebook model and completely clear off ChromeOS from it?

2. I don't know how to install the custom firmware I'd need. On the GalliumOS Firmware page it says MrChromebox has an "easy installation script" but on the MrChromebox page it says "It can be run from any Linux which has a full Bash shell" which I'm taking to mean I'd need another machine that is currently running Linux, which I don't have. Am I wrong? Probably, hopefully.

3. If I'm misunderstanding MrChromebox, can I run that script from a USB drive after I've either cleared off ChromeOS or installed the new SSD?

4. I've been informed that Fedora and Mint are beginner friendly distros, but I thought that Ubuntu was the one that they all sort of come from, the mothership OS if you will which is why I wanted to use it because I thought it had the most compatibility with programs, even if it wasn't the most user friendly. Am I wrong?

I don't want to say that I'm asking people to babysit me through the process that I'd need to do...but I kinda am. Software has never been my expertise (I've always been a hardware guy) but learning is part of the fun of Linux after all.

Thanks for answering.

/walloftext
 
Solution
A
I did that quite a while ago, first going to Chrubuntu (dual-boot ChromeOS and Ubuntu), then following excellent work of John Lewis (btw - buy this man a beer!). Got nice small 11.3" Linux laptop (Acer C710) for very reasonable price. I have upgraded both RAM and SSD on my laptop. There are some quirks, but I can live with them.

I would suggest making a backup of your current ROM in case something goes wrong, or you want to revert back to ChromeOS.
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Guest

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It won't work. You can have linux boot from a USB or SD card, and each time you'll have to do the ctrl-u thing at boot.

1) You aren't familiar with linux
2) You aren't familiar with firmware
3) You aren't a technical person.

It won't work.
 
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wish4f4302

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I didn't think I'd get such a condescending answer on here, maybe I felt that Tom's was a bit more professional. Anyway I thought I made it abundantly clear that I wasn't familiar with Linux or Firmware.

Now maybe somebody can tell me why it won't work instead of giving me a snarky answer.
 
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dmroeder

dmroeder

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It was pretty harsh. Don't be discouraged from using Linux.

Honestly, I would find a cheap new or used laptop that has Windows on it, then wipe it and put Linux on it. You are going to be into that Chromebook for more money that I think it would be worth. Plus, the install is going to be much more complicated and riskier than a run of the mill laptop. Installing Linux on a traditional laptop is trivial by comparison. No messing the "developer mode", not flashing alternate BIOS'.

Mint is my choice for a distro. I've never really been a fan of Ubuntu's Unity desktop, or Gnome. I prefer the desktops that come in Mint, though you could install any desktop in Ubuntu, but I say why do the extra work, just use Mint that already has the right ones. Mint has always just worked for me, where Ubuntu has occasionally had install problems, usually graphics related. Though you can probably find many people that have had problems with Mint too.
 
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wish4f4302

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Thanks for the good explanation. The reason I was so fixated on a chromebook, specifically the Acer 15, was because I only have about $350 to work with and it was the only new laptop I could find at that price with a 1920 x 1080 screen. I'll try to find something used or refurbished somewhere that isn't a Chromebook.
 
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dmroeder

dmroeder

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As far as Chromebooks go, that one does seem to be one of the better spec'd ones. It would be a bummer to goof it up though. A laptop is all but impossible to goof up and pretty easy to install Linux.

I think there are a few users here that have done what you want to do, wait for a bit to see if they chime in, they may have pointers. I've never owned a Chromebook, so I don't have any direct experience with what you are wanting to do. If I had one, I'd definitely go for it. I just have a hard time suggesting that others do it without having done it myself first.

 
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Guest

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I was harsh, because it's true. Chromebooks have boot level security which make it non-friendly. You need to enable developer-mode, then boot from that. Otherwise, it's very hard. As in disassembling and taking out the soldering iron, and removing some surface-mount components, then plugging-in some hardware through the earphone jack to interact with the u-boot firmware and try to to make sense of what is going on.

If you want to do this, great. I do this for fun all the time, it's my passion. But it's not an easy road.
 
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skittle

skittle

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No lol It's very easy I did it with my c720. No desoldering needed. Takes 10 min tops. Obviously Andy Chow have no experience doing such a thing. One time I even upload a bad firmware which you can revive using a 8pin SOIC clip (no it does not need to be desolderer) and a raspberry pi to flash the bios directly. I documented the process on the archwiki.

Read the archwiki to point you in the right direction.

https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Chrome_OS_devices

Basically: poweroff and remove write protection screw. Power on and enter developer mode. Run script to flash new firmware. Reboot and install Linux of your choice.
 
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Alabalcho

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I did that quite a while ago, first going to Chrubuntu (dual-boot ChromeOS and Ubuntu), then following excellent work of John Lewis (btw - buy this man a beer!). Got nice small 11.3" Linux laptop (Acer C710) for very reasonable price. I have upgraded both RAM and SSD on my laptop. There are some quirks, but I can live with them.

I would suggest making a backup of your current ROM in case something goes wrong, or you want to revert back to ChromeOS.
 
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