Installing Linux Ubuntu - Acer Chromebook

[haroldj97]

Recently I purchased a Acer C720 Chromebook for college work. It is a great laptop and does pretty much everything that I want i to. However since I am studying computing, Java programming makes up a considerable part of the course. I found this guide online on how to install Linux Ubuntu on the chromebook and it seems fairly easy to do so. However reading this guide it says I need to remove the write protect screw in the laptop. Do I need to remove the write protect screw in order to install Linux?. Also will installing Linux void the manufactures warranty?.

EDIT: I have done some more googling and found this page and this seems alot similar. So will I not have to remove the screw? Also will still void the warranty?

 

[skittle]

I have an C720 with ArchLinux and Alternate Coreboot firmware, runs very well.

You do not *need* to remove the write screw but you will have to press CRTL+L every time you boot. The write protect screw is to prevent writing to BIOS/Flash.

The easiest way to get real Linux installation:
1)remove write protect screw (Yes this will void your warranty. Alternatively use stock firmware and press CRTL+L on each boot, this will not void warranty)
2)Enable Dev mode/Enable boot from USB.
3)Install Coreboot firmware from here: https://johnlewis.ie/custom-chromebook-firmware/rom-download/ (using the provided script)
3)Make bootable USB of Linux. Boot from USB and install like normal.
4)To enable touchpad you need to use a patched kernel or kernel 3.17+ (3.17 has these patches merged)

Links for more information:
https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Acer_C720_Chromebook
https://johnlewis.ie/ (for Coreboot firmware)
http://www.chromium.org/chromium-os/developer-information-for-chrome-os-devices/acer-c720-chromebook
https://aur.archlinux.org/packages/linux-chromebook/ (patched kernel; alternatively just use unpatched kernel 3.17)

BTW chrubuntu and crouton are not Native linux, they are piggyback/chroot on ChromeOS. IMO not ideal because you have to still have ChromeOS installed and taking up space on the tiny SSD.

This method will not Void your warranty and work decently well if you have enough SSD space to spare or want to keep ChromeOS installed.

 

[haroldj97]

Hmm OK I don't particulary want to void the warranty (only had it under a week). I think I may go ahead and install crouton and see if I encounter any problems. I thing I am slightly worried about is the ssd is only 16gb but I will see, thanks

 

[skittle]

Yes I have the 16GB model as well. ChromeOS eats about 4GB by its self.. This is why I removed ChromeOS.

So you have Three options
1) Crouton (Doesn't void warranty), but ChromeOS takes 4GB.
2) Remove ChromeOS and Press CRTL+L on each boot (Doesn't void warranty)
3) Remove ChromeOS and flash new firmware (voids warranty)

 

[haroldj97]

Ok , don't know if I want to get rid of chromeos entirely in case so will probably go with option 1, since chromeos is 4gb that leaves roughly 11-12gb and i use online storage for files so don't think storage will be an issue, thanks for your help

 

[skittle]

A full Ubuntu+ChromeOS will take up lots more room...

 

[Alabalcho]

I have C710, and have used chromeos-cr48' way of dual-booting ChromeOS with (chr)Ubunty. Worked pretty well, but leaves about 10gb for Ubuntu, and 2gb for ChromeOs.

Since them, I have voided my warranty (I got my C710 pretty cheap) and upgraded RAM to 4GB, and replaced the 16GB SSD with 128gb SSD. This way, I have ChromeOS when I want it, and Ubuntu for real work. For what I know, RAM us not upgradeable on C720, and SSD is of uSATA variety, making upgrade little bit more expensive.

The only downside to this is that under default installation, Ubuntu runs off (separate copy of) ChromeOS kernel 3.8.11, which lacks some important stuff (PPP support and virtualization). There are guides how to compile and install your own kernel.

 

[haroldj97]

Went ahead and attempted to install Linux Ubuntu Precise on my Chromebook, hoping I wouldn't run into any issues. It works really well. Everything worked straight away and I didn't have to install any drivers. I ran into problems running XFCE, with not being able to install Java and whenever a command was ran in the terimal in XFCE, I wouldn't be able to boot Linux back up for some reason. However, I can now write, compile and run Java code. run Windows applications in Wine and use a full Office suite on a Laptop which cost half of what a Windows laptop would cost. Thanks for your help!

 

[mdbikerdude]

I just published a blog post on this and installing GalliumOS (~Ubuntu-lite) using USB 128GB stick - that avoids all the issues and provides best of both worlds with dual boot. No need to void warranty or mess with original hardware.