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ASWE’VESAID,Google doesn’toffer its
oɘcial versionofChrome OS separately: you
havetobuyaChromebook. Thankfully,you’re
not alone in wantingtoinstall Chrome OS on
an old Windows laptop or desktop–other
people have done the worktomake it really
easytoget started.
There are many Chrome OS ‘clones’,
mostly based around the same open-source
software that Google uses, which is
Chromium OS (seewww.chromium.org/
chromium-os). These alternatives aren’t really
clones, but rather customised buildsof
Chromium OS designedtoreplicatethe look
andfeelofGoogle’s operating system. One
widely used alternative is Arnold the Bat’s
ChromiumOS Enhanced (seearnoldthebat.
co.uk/wordpress), but that’salittle fiddlyto
set up.Instead, we’ll show you howtoinstall
and set up ãeverware’s CloudReady.
First, headtowww.neverware.com/
freedownloadand scroll downtoclick the
appropriatebutton: either Download USB
Makerforstandard ČCs and laptops, or
the 64-bit or 32-bit versionforMacs or
Chromebooks.We’ll assume that you’re
usingaWindows-style computer,but the
guidesforMac and Chromebooks are very
clearto follow.
Once the USB Maker has downloaded,
insertaUSB flash drive (8GB or larger)
and ensure you save any files on that drive
toanother location–not the hard diskof
the device you intendtoturn intoa
Chromebook, which you should also back
up.Once you’re sure the flash drive
contains nothing useful, run the USB Maker
toturn the flash drive intoabootable
CloudReady installer.Člug the USB intothe
soon-to-be ChromeThing (you can run
CloudReady onadesktop ČC as well as
laptop) and turn it on.
Ŵoumight needtocheck that the USB
drive is set as the first boot device,soenter
the BIOS or UEFI (typicallybypressing
DeleteorF2repeatedly during the initial
boot process)toadjust the Boot menu.
If successful, you will quickly see the
CloudReady logo on your screen.
FIRST IMPRESSIONS
CloudReady will quickly drop you intoits
welcome screen. This screen only hasafew
optionstochange,oneofwhich is the
language.The default language is US English,
so click the Language button and change
the languagetoUÃ English (or your own
preferred language) and check CloudReady
has chosen the correct keyboard layout.
TheAccessibility button lets you set
options such as high-contrast colours or a
large cursor.Itmight be worth
tinkering with someof
these options if they
sound useful. There’s
no needtoenable
the debugging
features, so just
clickLet’s Go.
Ŵoucan now connecttoyour Wi-Fi
network; you don’t needtosend metrics
toãeverware,sountick that option. The next
setup screen istolog intoyour Google
account; use your Ǐgmail.com email
address and password.
Ŵou’ll be greeted withaguidedtour,which
shows you the mainfeaturesofCloudReady.
Oneofthese is the Launcher,essentially a
Start menu, placedtothe leftofthe Shelf,
which definitely isn’taTaskbar or Dock.
Clicking the Launcher expands the Shelfto
show your apps. The otherfeature is the
ChromebookStatus,tothe rightofthe Shelf.
This definitely isn’t essentially theSystem
Tray.Click on the ChromebookStatus area,andaslick menu pops up with controlsfor
Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, volume,screen brightness
and alerts. It’s neat and modern.
If you wanttodelve deeper intothe
settings options, click the cog icon (called
Settings) and you’ll be abletofiddle with
along menuofsettings and options.
Ŵouwon’t find anything like the options
available in the WindowsTask Manager,
but you’ll find mostofthe essentials.
The apparent lackofoptions andfeatures
is actually what you’re buying intoby
converting your laptoptoCloudReady; it’s
meanttobe stripped back and minimalist.
This not only makes it very easytorun
(and therefore very responsiveeven on old⬆Use the USB Makertooltocreateabootable USB drivetoinstallaChrome OS clone within minuteslarge cursor
tinkering
these
sou
no