Chrome OS is a Gentoo Linux-based operating system designed by Google. It is derived from the free software Chromium OS and makes use of the Google Chrome web browser as its principal user interface. Unlike Chromium OS, Chrome OS is proprietary software.
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However, the Chrome operating system (OS) was originally reserved only for Chromebook users, but currently, it’s available for other devices too.
The software is a great alternative to Windows or Linux, and you can run it without an installation. All you need is to simply download Chrome OS to a USB drive and use Etcher or some other software to make it bootable. You will be learning how to download and install the software in this write-up.
Chrome OS
Chrome OS is one of the simplest operating systems you can get. Chromium OS is an unofficial open-source version of Chrome OS, it can work with devices such as Mac, Linux, and Windows. However, the company behind Chromium is called Neverware.
The unofficial open-source version of Chrome OS is far more stable and offers better support than the original OS. It’s ideal for Windows XP and Linux users because it offers more protection and is also much easier to update. The software is an operating system that doesn’t take up too much space, and it works great for basic operations and surfing the internet.
How To Download & Install Chrome OS
To begin the installation process, you have to download the latest version of Chromium for your device. Also, you will need a program to work with the OS image, will be using Etcher in this example, a USB with at least 4GB capacity, and your PC.
Proceed to prepare your USB, and make sure it’s empty, so transfer all valuable data to your PC before you begin. When you’ve got everything ready, here is what you have to do:
Download Chromium OS
Google doesn’t offer an official Chromium OS build you can download to your PC, so you’ll have to get it from an alternative source. You can locate many sites that offer Chromium for free, but it’s advisable for you to get it from Arnold the Bat. On their website, you will see a long list of Chromium versions because it’s continuously updated with new releases. Follow the on-site instructions and download the latest version.
Extract the Image
After downloading, you will have to extract the image using 7-Zip. Kindly right-click on the downloaded file and extract the data to a new folder. The process takes a few minutes to complete.
Prepare Your USB Drive
Get the USB you want to use to boot Chromium and plug it into your computer. If you are using Windows, find the USB in My Computer, right-click on it, and select Quick Format.
So, when the pop-up window shows, select FAT32 as your file system and click on Start. Note; you should know that all of the data on your USB drive will be wiped clean.
For macOS users- you can use the Disk Utility to format the USB as FAT32. If it says MS-DOS DAT instead of FAT32, don’t worry because it’s the same format. Complete the process to prepare your USB.
Use Etcher to Install the Chromium Image
Your Chromium is downloaded and extracted and the USB is formatted, so you are ready to continue.
- Download and Run Etcher
- Tap on the Flash from a file, find the Chromium OS image you have previously downloaded, and add it.
- Click on Select Drive and select the USB you prepared.
- Hit Flash and Etcher will install a bootable version of Chromium to your USB device.
The creation process takes a few minutes to complete. When it’s done, wait for Etcher to verify that everything works as expected. You are now ready to install Chromium on your PC.
Restart Your PC and Enable USB in the Boot Options
You need to run BIOS to set USB as your primary boot device.
When the computer is first starting up, you can run BIOS by pressing F8, F10, F12, or Del, the key you need to press will vary based on your BIOS.
Every computer has different-looking BIOS, but you should look for an option labeled Boot Manage or Boot.
And then set the USB as your primary boot device and select Save & Exit, the actual name may differ in your BIOS.
Is ChromeOS being phased out?
No, ChromeOS is not being phased out. Google has committed to supporting ChromeOS for a minimum of eight years from the date of its initial release. This means that all Chromebooks released in 2023 will receive updates until at least 2031.
In fact, Google has been investing heavily in ChromeOS in recent years. In 2021, they released a new version of ChromeOS called “ChromeOS 91” which included a number of new features and improvements. They have also been working on making ChromeOS more compatible with Linux apps, which will give users more flexibility and choice.
Overall, it seems that Google is committed to ChromeOS for the long term. They see it as a viable alternative to Windows and macOS, and they are investing in making it a more powerful and versatile operating system.
