[GTPodcast]

I wonder...

Is it possible for the Chromebook hardware to run Windows 7, Ubuntu, or some other OS besides ChromeOS, either after a reformat, or as a dual-boot?

Not that I don't like ChromeOS or anything, but I just wonder what else could be done with these machines.

 

[Ben]

If anybody can answer this question, in particular could you add whether you may boot from usb devices? Access the BIOS?

 

[sarahgraceguitar]

I know its possible, since I've seen several people who dual booted Ubuntu or Windows 7. However, I have no idea how they do this..its somehow done by flipping the development switch inside the Chromebook(beside the battery)

 

[vsteel4]

It would be pretty difficult, I think, because you cannot access the BIOS.

 

[raminix]

It would be pretty difficult, I think, because you cannot access the BIOS.

Heh... it would be difficult period getting WIndows 7 to run much less have any apps installed, in that amount of storage. Dual booting? Yeah right. You could do it, but you're going to have to use some external storage or get a bigger SSD to be able to do anything more than just boot and say "look what I did!"

 

[Malone]

Aren't there some Linux distros that run off thumb drives? And Chromebooks have USB ports, right? So you could do it that way. It's not the same as having it installed directly on the Chromebook, but it'd work.

 

[AGVirt]

If you are looking for other options to access Windows apps on your Chromebook, you should look at Ericom AccessNow, a pure HTML5 RDP client that enables Chromebook users to connect to any RDP host, including Terminal Server (RDS Session Host), physical desktops or VDI virtual desktops – and run their applications and desktops in a browser.

Ericom‘s AccessNow does not require Java, Flash, Silverlight, ActiveX, or any other underlying technology to be installed on end-user devices – an HTML5 browser is all that is required.

For more info, and to download the beta, visit:
http://www.ericom.com/AccessNow

 

[Droymac]

I know its possible, since I've seen several people who dual booted Ubuntu or Windows 7. However, I have no idea how they do this..its somehow done by flipping the development switch inside the Chromebook(beside the battery)

The switch is actually next to the SIM card slot on the right side of the machine, underneath the little door thing. I know this because I spent all night looking up how to do a factory reset on my Chromebook to restore Chrome 12 Stable after installing Chrome 13 in the Dev channel.

 

[Ronaldst]

I wonder...

Is it possible for the Chromebook hardware to run Windows 7, Ubuntu, or some other OS besides ChromeOS, either after a reformat, or as a dual-boot?

Not that I don't like ChromeOS or anything, but I just wonder what else could be done with these machines.

Yes, the CR-48 was made to run Windows 7. There's a switch on the Chromebooks that enables full access to the machine.