{"id":3409,"date":"2023-09-22T22:51:32","date_gmt":"2023-09-23T02:51:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/karmismusingstech.com\/?p=3409"},"modified":"2025-08-12T13:30:55","modified_gmt":"2025-08-12T17:30:55","slug":"how-to-turn-a-314-57-chromebook-into-a-fedora-linux-laptop-tablet-sketchbook","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/karmismusingstech.com\/index.php\/2023\/09\/22\/how-to-turn-a-314-57-chromebook-into-a-fedora-linux-laptop-tablet-sketchbook\/","title":{"rendered":"How to turn a $314.57 Chromebook into a Fedora Linux <i>Laptop\/Tablet\/Sketchbook<\/i>"},"content":{"rendered":"<ul>\n<li style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"color: #bf0041;\"><b>NOTE<\/b>: This 6\/18\/2021 post was transferred from my old <em>Linux Newbie \u2013 Since 1996<\/em> blog, and has been edited to fix links, outdated info &amp; etc., but the conversion from Chrome OS to Fedora info should still be correct.\u00a0 <\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>This was done using \u2018<a href=\"https:\/\/karmismusingstech.com\/index.php\/pcs\/my-computers\/\"><strong><em>Sam<\/em><\/strong><\/a>\u2019 my new 12.2\u201d <a href=\"https:\/\/www.samsung.com\/us\/business\/computing\/chrome-devices\/chromebook-plus\/chromebook-plus-12-2-wi-fi-intel-celeron-xe521qab-k01us\/\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>Samsung Chromebook Plus V2 XE521QAB<\/strong><\/a>. Tried this same method on the new <a href=\"https:\/\/href.li\/?https:\/\/support.hp.com\/us-en\/document\/c06632436\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" target=\"_blank\">HP Chromebook \u2013 14a-na0023cl<\/a> (\u2018<a href=\"https:\/\/karmismusingstech.com\/index.php\/pcs\/chromebooks\/\"><strong><em>Chromebook<\/em><\/strong><\/a>\u2019) \u2018n it didn\u2019t work. I had purchased two Chromebooks wid the hopes of turning one into a Fedora Linux laptop.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-3394 size-medium\" src=\"https:\/\/karmismusingstech.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/a-f63d7-fedora-de-1-500x313.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"500\" height=\"313\" srcset=\"https:\/\/karmismusingstech.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/a-f63d7-fedora-de-1-500x313.jpg 500w, https:\/\/karmismusingstech.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/a-f63d7-fedora-de-1-768x480.jpg 768w, https:\/\/karmismusingstech.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/a-f63d7-fedora-de-1.jpg 900w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Here\u2019s closer look at System Settings wid that so-called \u201cweak\u201d Chromebook Celeron 3965Y \u2018n just 4 (<em>\u201c3.7\u201d<\/em>) GiB memory (<em>6\/19\/2021<\/em> <strong>NOTE<\/strong>: <em><u>forgot to upgrade to Fedora 33 from 32, \u2018n so here\u2019s the new System pic<\/u><\/em>):<\/p>\n<p><!--more--><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-3396 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/karmismusingstech.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/b-2fe16-fed33-1-system.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"817\" height=\"684\" srcset=\"https:\/\/karmismusingstech.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/b-2fe16-fed33-1-system.jpg 817w, https:\/\/karmismusingstech.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/b-2fe16-fed33-1-system-500x419.jpg 500w, https:\/\/karmismusingstech.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/b-2fe16-fed33-1-system-768x643.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 817px) 100vw, 817px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Laptops wid Linux installed on them are difficult to find, and the OEMs offering them have <em>high hiGH<\/em> prices on their products (<em>usually require \u201cpreordered\u201d<\/em>), i.e. Walmart \u2018n Office Depot don\u2019t have them stocked on their shelves next to the Chromebooks.\u00a0 \ud83d\ude09<\/p>\n<p>Linux isn\u2019t a Desktop\/Laptop OS, it\u2019s a \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/href.li\/?https:\/\/endeavouros.com\/\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>terminal-centric distro<\/strong><\/a>\u201d (<em>Linux \u2018Speak\u2019 for keyboard-based OS<\/em>) meant for developers \u2018n programmers \u2018n IT Specialists \u2018n etc. I have used it as a \u2018<em>Specialty<\/em>\u2019 and\/or \u00a0\u2018<em>Hobby<\/em>\u2019 OS for about 25 years, and have my Top 5 choices listed on the <a href=\"https:\/\/karmismusingstech.com\/index.php\/operating-systems\/linux\/karmis-top-10-linux-distros\/\"><strong><em>Karmi\u2019s Top 10 5 Linux Distros<\/em><\/strong><\/a> page. However, I am still a <strong><em>Newbie<\/em><\/strong> at working wid Linux, when compared to what the Developers \u2018n Programmers \u2018n IT Specialists can do wid it.<\/p>\n<p>Recently seeing Chromebooks rapid <strong><em>*<\/em><\/strong><strong><em>GROWTH<\/em><\/strong><strong><em>*<\/em><\/strong> rates, I decided to try one out \u2018n so purchased a 14\u201d <strong><em>HP Chromebook \u2013 14a-na0023cl<\/em><\/strong> for $209.99. Liked it so much that I wanted to see what one would look like wid a smaller display \u2018n so purchased \u2018<strong><em>Sam<\/em><\/strong>\u2019 (<em>I have named all my computers other than \u2018<\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/karmismusingstech.com\/index.php\/pcs\/chromebooks\/\"><strong><em>Chromebook<\/em><\/strong><\/a><em>\u2019 who was \u2018self-named\u2019 when it arrived<\/em>).<\/p>\n<p>When searching for a new Chromebook, I also came across some info about Chromebooks having an \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/href.li\/?https:\/\/support.google.com\/chrome\/a\/answer\/6220366?\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>Auto Update Expiration (AUE)<\/strong><\/a>\u201d date, \u2018n so I started thinking about putting a <strong><em>Fulltime Linux Root User<\/em><\/strong> Distro like Fedora 33 Cinnamon Spin on one. Finally had success the other day, when I managed to get <strong><em>FossaPup64 9.5 Linux<\/em><\/strong> working on \u2018<a href=\"https:\/\/karmismusingstech.com\/index.php\/pcs\/my-computers\/\"><strong><em>Sam<\/em><\/strong><\/a>\u2019.<\/p>\n<p>Still a lot more testing to do, e.g. I installed Fedora on a 32GB SanDisk microSDHC UHS-I Card, but want to see if I can get it on a 128GB Samsung EVO Select microSDXC Memory Card. I\u2019ve conducted 100\u2019s of tests over the past few weeks, just to finally have a second success today, and haven\u2019t kept great (<em>or even bad<\/em>) records.\u00a0 \ud83d\ude09\u00a0 Lotta <em>hit-miss hit-miss hit-miss<\/em> action is involved in my testing methods.<\/p>\n<p>I will do some updates to the post, <strong>**<\/strong>( <strong>1)<\/strong> <em>6\/19\/2021 \u2013<\/em> <u><em>Updated system settings pic &amp; also moved Fedora to 128 GB SD memory card<\/em><\/u> \u2013 <strong>2)<\/strong> 6\/20\/2021 \u2013 <em><u>For the near future<\/u>, minor updates will be added to the <strong>*Karmi\u2019s Daily Blog Log*<\/strong> page<\/em>.)<strong>**<\/strong>, but for now\u2026<em>here\u2019s I go<\/em>!<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Installing Fedora 33 Cinnamon Spin onto a<\/strong> <strong>Samsung Chromebook Plus V2 XE521QAB<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>As mentioned earlier, these same steps <u>didn\u2019t work on the HP Chromebook<\/u>. There is a lot of Write Protection going on with both software \u2018n hardware on all Chromebooks. Most of the info on how to get rid of Write Protection is either old, wrong, incredible difficult, etc.; however, most all seem to agree that \u2018<em>some-kind<\/em>\u2019 of BIOS Flashing <em><u>will\/might<\/u><\/em> work.<\/p>\n<p>In a few years, I may try out one of the serious BIOS Flashing methods, but am too much of a novice at this point. With Windows 10 machines, all the BIOS Flashing steps are laid out for you, and much of it is automated.<\/p>\n<p><strong><u>First<\/u><\/strong> \u2013 Set your Chromebook to Developer Mode\u2026lots of accurate info on that, so I won\u2019t bother here.<\/p>\n<p><strong><u>Second<\/u><\/strong> \u2013 <a href=\"https:\/\/href.li\/?https:\/\/mrchromebox.tech\/#home\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>MrChromebox.tech<\/strong><\/a> \u2013 <em>then<\/em> \u2013 Firmware Utility Script to <a href=\"https:\/\/href.li\/?https:\/\/mrchromebox.tech\/#fwscript\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>ChromeOS Firmware Utility Script<\/strong><\/a> page:<\/p>\n<p><em>To download and run this script under ChromeOS, from a terminal\/shell type:<\/em><br \/>\ncd; curl -LO mrchromebox.tech\/firmware-util.sh<br \/>\nsudo install -Dt \/usr\/local\/bin -m 755 firmware-util.sh<br \/>\nsudo firmware-util.sh<br \/>\n<em>and press enter. (copy\/paste these to avoid typos) <\/em><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>(<strong><em><u>Note<\/u><\/em><\/strong><em>: I have used some other scripts also, with some success using the \u2018Live\u2019 USBs and\/or Puppy Linux, but never managed to get the full Distro installed.<\/em>)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Terminal (crosh) needs \u201cshell\u201d typed in first &gt;&gt; then the Script \u2013 looks like this:<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-3398 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/karmismusingstech.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/c-d2f72-1-mrchrome.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"968\" height=\"635\" srcset=\"https:\/\/karmismusingstech.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/c-d2f72-1-mrchrome.jpg 968w, https:\/\/karmismusingstech.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/c-d2f72-1-mrchrome-500x328.jpg 500w, https:\/\/karmismusingstech.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/c-d2f72-1-mrchrome-768x504.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 968px) 100vw, 968px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>That takes you to the Firmware Utility Script options:<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-3399 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/karmismusingstech.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/d-c728c-2-mrchrome.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"955\" height=\"507\" srcset=\"https:\/\/karmismusingstech.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/d-c728c-2-mrchrome.jpg 955w, https:\/\/karmismusingstech.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/d-c728c-2-mrchrome-500x265.jpg 500w, https:\/\/karmismusingstech.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/d-c728c-2-mrchrome-768x408.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 955px) 100vw, 955px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>That pic was from the HP Chromebook, and the #1 \u2018n #2 options were greyed out, but both were available in the Samsung Chromebook. If #1 <em>isn\u2019t available<\/em>, then you\u2019ll probably have to try something else.<\/p>\n<p>I entered #1 \u2018n then it installs new Firmware\u2026asks if your want the USB to boot first \u2013 I selected \u201cN\u201d &amp; then \u201cR\u201d to reboot (<em>have also used \u201cQ\u201d for quit<\/em>).<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-3401 size-large\" src=\"https:\/\/karmismusingstech.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/e-9f82a-seabios_boot_3-1024x694.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"434\" srcset=\"https:\/\/karmismusingstech.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/e-9f82a-seabios_boot_3-1024x694.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/karmismusingstech.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/e-9f82a-seabios_boot_3-500x339.jpg 500w, https:\/\/karmismusingstech.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/e-9f82a-seabios_boot_3-768x520.jpg 768w, https:\/\/karmismusingstech.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/e-9f82a-seabios_boot_3.jpg 1227w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>In Developer Mode, you get this each time you bootup:<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-3402 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/karmismusingstech.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/f-18ba2-chrome-warning-off.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"224\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Pic is terrible \u2013 borrowed it \u2018n was one of the better ones\u2026sorry. From there, you can boot into Chrome OS by pressing <a href=\"https:\/\/href.li\/?https:\/\/www.howtogeek.com\/210817\/how-to-enable-developer-mode-on-your-chromebook\/\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>Ctrl+D<\/strong><\/a> \u2013 <strong><u>OR<\/u><\/strong> \u2013 you can press Ctrl+L to boot from USB or SD card, and that takes you:<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-3403 size-large\" src=\"https:\/\/karmismusingstech.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/g-69d12-seabios_boot_1-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"427\" srcset=\"https:\/\/karmismusingstech.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/g-69d12-seabios_boot_1-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/karmismusingstech.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/g-69d12-seabios_boot_1-500x333.jpg 500w, https:\/\/karmismusingstech.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/g-69d12-seabios_boot_1-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/karmismusingstech.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/g-69d12-seabios_boot_1.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Press ESC for boot menu, <em>it moves quick<\/em>, and that takes you:<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-3404 size-large\" src=\"https:\/\/karmismusingstech.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/h-e7fb1-seabios_boot_2-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"427\" srcset=\"https:\/\/karmismusingstech.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/h-e7fb1-seabios_boot_2-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/karmismusingstech.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/h-e7fb1-seabios_boot_2-500x333.jpg 500w, https:\/\/karmismusingstech.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/h-e7fb1-seabios_boot_2-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/karmismusingstech.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/h-e7fb1-seabios_boot_2.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Select device to boot \u2013 <em>it moves quick<\/em> so be ready.<\/p>\n<p>I borrowed those pics, so yours may look a \u2018<em>Tad<\/em>\u2019 different \u2013 mainly, hit \u201cESC\u201d \u2018n then select device from boot menu.<\/p>\n<p>Also, I had to change some of the Power Settings in Fedora \u2013 mainly the \u201cWhen the lid is closed\u201d from suspend to do nothing. Had to reinstall the RW_LEGACY firmware after closing the lid, i.e. it had suspended itself \u2018n wouldn\u2019t boot back into Fedora. Chrome OS is built for security (<em>unlike Linux<\/em>) so that BIOS goes into protection mode if it thinks anything is wrong.<\/p>\n<p>Here is the Chrome OS disk view from GParted:<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-3405 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/karmismusingstech.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/i-0b6c6-fedora-chrome-gparted-3.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"859\" height=\"680\" srcset=\"https:\/\/karmismusingstech.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/i-0b6c6-fedora-chrome-gparted-3.jpg 859w, https:\/\/karmismusingstech.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/i-0b6c6-fedora-chrome-gparted-3-500x396.jpg 500w, https:\/\/karmismusingstech.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/i-0b6c6-fedora-chrome-gparted-3-768x608.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 859px) 100vw, 859px\" \/><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Here is Fedora\u2019s <strong><u>OLD<\/u><\/strong> 32 GB SanDisk memory card view from GParted:<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-3406 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/karmismusingstech.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/j-7831c-fedora-fedora-gparted-4.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"855\" height=\"671\" srcset=\"https:\/\/karmismusingstech.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/j-7831c-fedora-fedora-gparted-4.jpg 855w, https:\/\/karmismusingstech.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/j-7831c-fedora-fedora-gparted-4-500x392.jpg 500w, https:\/\/karmismusingstech.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/j-7831c-fedora-fedora-gparted-4-768x603.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 855px) 100vw, 855px\" \/><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>6\/19\/2021 <strong><u>UPDATE<\/u><\/strong>: reinstalled Fedora 32 \u2018n upgraded it to Fedora 33 \u2013 <strong>plus<\/strong> \u2013 the reinstall was to a 128GB Samsung EVO Select microSDXC Memory Card. Here\u2019s the new pic:<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-3407 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/karmismusingstech.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/k-baec5-fed33-2-gparted-128-disk.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"867\" height=\"581\" srcset=\"https:\/\/karmismusingstech.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/k-baec5-fed33-2-gparted-128-disk.jpg 867w, https:\/\/karmismusingstech.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/k-baec5-fed33-2-gparted-128-disk-500x335.jpg 500w, https:\/\/karmismusingstech.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/k-baec5-fed33-2-gparted-128-disk-768x515.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 867px) 100vw, 867px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Will add this post to the <a href=\"https:\/\/karmismusingstech.com\/index.php\/pcs\/chromebooks\/\"><strong><em>Chromebooks<\/em><\/strong><\/a> page&#8230;<\/p>\n<blockquote><p><em>LINUX IS LIKE A BOX OF CHOCOLATES \u2013 you never know what you\u2019re gonna get!<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>NOTE: This 6\/18\/2021 post was transferred from my old Linux Newbie \u2013 Since 1996 blog, and has been edited to fix links, outdated info &amp; etc., but the conversion from Chrome OS to Fedora info should still be correct.\u00a0 This was done using \u2018Sam\u2019 my new 12.2\u201d Samsung Chromebook Plus V2 XE521QAB. Tried this same &#8230; <a title=\"How to turn a $314.57 Chromebook into a Fedora Linux Laptop\/Tablet\/Sketchbook\" class=\"read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/karmismusingstech.com\/index.php\/2023\/09\/22\/how-to-turn-a-314-57-chromebook-into-a-fedora-linux-laptop-tablet-sketchbook\/\" aria-label=\"Read more about How to turn a $314.57 Chromebook into a Fedora Linux Laptop\/Tablet\/Sketchbook\">Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"iawp_total_views":37,"footnotes":""},"categories":[49,123,119,142,11,133],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3409","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-chromebooks","category-cinnamon","category-fedora-linux","category-intel","category-linux","category-samsung"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/karmismusingstech.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3409","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/karmismusingstech.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/karmismusingstech.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/karmismusingstech.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/karmismusingstech.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3409"}],"version-history":[{"count":14,"href":"https:\/\/karmismusingstech.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3409\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3425,"href":"https:\/\/karmismusingstech.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3409\/revisions\/3425"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/karmismusingstech.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3409"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/karmismusingstech.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3409"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/karmismusingstech.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3409"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}