Boot from USB on Chromebook (Dell Chromebook, 2015 Edition)

[Jack Hellaman]

Hello it's me again! I just have a quick question that I haven't been able to find much information on. My question is how do I boot from USB on a dell Chromebook 11 (2015 edition). Also is it possible to boot a Linux ISO by modifying it in some way that chrome will look at it and accept it?

[Olof Johansson]

2016-03-20 12:14 GMT-07:00 Jack Hellaman <jhpir...@hotmail.com>:

Hello it's me again! I just have a quick question that I haven't been able to find much information on. My question is how do I boot from USB on a dell Chromebook 11 (2015 edition). Also is it possible to boot a Linux ISO by modifying it in some way that chrome will look at it and accept it?

If you are in developer mode you can run "crossystem dev_boot_usb=1" and reboot. Then, on the developer mode screen, you can hit ctrl-u to boot from USB or SD card.

Note that you still need to boot with the regular Chrome OS disk format in that case: kernel partition with a signed kernel (developer keys are fine though).

If you want to boot a legacy image, then you want to run seabios. crossystem dev_boot_legacy=1 enables ctrl-l which in turn will launch SeaBIOS, which in turn can handle regular bootloaders such as grub or syslinux.

-Olof

[Jack Hellaman]

The problem is that seaBIOS doesn't seem to exist on my Chromebook so I can't boot custom isos. Is there any way other than reflashing the os? Is there a certain way I can burn the ISO so chrome will read it?

[Laurent Schneider]

I've been there too. I bought a Chromebook in order to boot a legacy stick, and, disappointment, it is not that easy.

I am pretty proud I managed to do it.

If you don't need legacy mode, you could simply type enable_dev_usb_boot as root

Otherwise

1) enable developer mode and get root access. If this sound like klingon, give up now!

2) try to disable flash protection flashrom --wp-disable

3a) if this outputs SUCCESS, go to 4

3b) get a screwdriver and forget about guarantee, support and security.

3c) open your notebook, remove the keyboard carefully, google for "battery repair" instruction, it is the same priniple

3d) locate the WP (write protection) screw. It is a screw that connect the cupper around it, so the cupper around is broken horizontally and vertically. If you are lucky, you could google your model or find a WP tag. Otherwise, just be brave

3e) connect your keyboard and boot

3f) flashrom --wp-disable

3g) if it fails, it is maybe the wrong screw. For me it did work

4) install your SeaBios, some scripts exist, there is a remaining risk that you won't be able to boot, and because of 3b, you won't get support. I did it with curl -L -O https://johnlewis.ie/flash_chromebook_rom.sh

5) enable RW Legacy

6) enable legacy boot

I hope it'll work for you. It did work for me

[Steve]

i tried this and everything was going well until i hit step #5...when i entered the command "enable RW Legacy" i got the error reply "no builtin shell"...do you know how to get passed this?

[DennisLfromGA]

Jack, Steve and others,

The older Dell Chromebook 11 (Wolf) and the newer Dell Chromebook 11 (3120) (Candy) have an issue with SeaBIOS but it can be overcome.

You do NOT need to remove or disable the write-protect screw to get SeaBIOS working, as noted in both of those issues linked above and here.

John.Lewis and Mr.Chromebox have fixes for both of the Dell Chromebook 11's.

I use the following sites and a few others when researching this and other features -

arch.linux: Chrome OS devices/Chromebook

mr.chromebox: Supported Devices

My Dell Chromebook 13 (7310) (Lulu) needed a minor tweak and I used John.Lewis' script to fix it - easy peasy.

Be sure to first follow Olof's steps above to set the crossystem options.

-DennisL

[Morgan Weis]

I'm using a school issued chromebook and they've blocked developer mode, is there any way that you think i can get around this?

[DennisLfromGA]

Morgan, Nope, sorry. ~DennisL

[Mike Frysinger]

if you find a way, feel free to report a bug:

  https://www.google.com/about/appsecurity/chrome-rewards/

-mike

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[and magdo]

If you have no problem with resetting it and taking it out of policy, use the rollback command in crosh, unless crosh is disabled also.

[Zackion's Goal20 Videos]

On Tuesday, November 21, 2017 at 4:50:17 PM UTC-5, Morgan Weis wrote:

Well The Problem is, when I had a school Chromebook, there was an extension called MTM Absolute. Find a way to kill the extension, and the chromebooks yours. Although I ve always had a feeling there was a tracking chip the computer that would stop any deletion of it.

so i suppose there's two options...

1)"accidently" brake your chromebook and trade it in, then try again to get into deloper ode

2)buy a persnoal chromebook (my recomended way).

Hope that helps,

Zackion

 

[Keith I Myers]

I sure hope you know that this group does not support doing anything illegal 

Keith I Myers
http://KMyers.me
Mobile : (305)-929-3475

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