Acer C720 Chromebook on Windows 10

[kentares]

Good evening,

So after about a full day of fighting(learning) with the Chromebook and the Internet on how exactly to do it; I have the steps that worked for me:

Acer C720 Chromebook to Windows 10

Remove the write-protect screw
https://www.chromium.org/chromium-o...on-for-chrome-os-devices/acer-c720-chromebook

1. CPU
2. RAM
3. System firmware. 8MB SPI Flash.
4. NGFF (M.2) SSD
5. Battery enable switch
6. Battery enable screw
7. Write-protect screw
8. Servo debug header (probably missing on your machine)
9. NGFF (M.2) WWAN connector (probably missing on your machine)

Enable Developer Mode

1. Hold down ESC + Refresh (F3 on a standard keyboard) + Power
2. Wait for Restart
3. Wait for Error / Corrupt OS Screen
   
4. Hold down Alt + D
5. Enable Debugging Mode on the Start Screen

Launch Terminal

1. Login as a Guest
2. Hold down Ctrl + Alt + -> (Forward)
3. Login as root / root (you set the password at the Developer password screen)
4. Follow the command listed in this Terminal to change the chronos password
5. Chromeos-setdevpasswd; Press Enter
6. chronos; Press Enter
7. root; Press Enter (twice)

Figure out what kind of tracepad is on the Acer C720 Chromebook

1. Might have to do this in the Browser Terminal (Ctrl + Alt + T)
2. Type Shell; Press Enter
3. Type cat /proc/bus/input/devices; Press Enter
4. Look through the list and look for Cypress or Elan Trackpad
5. Download the appropriate ROM at: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1yfIjx-fJXPvs6EwSdjRnokJ6ktNxeExZmVin9mamVZU/edit?pref=2&pli=1

Flash custom rom that will allow for Windows 10 to be installed

1. Copy the flashrom.bin and needed ROM file to the Downloads folder
2. While in Terminal
3. Type cd home/chronos/user/Downloads; Press Enter
4. suflashrom –r ogbios.bin (to backup the original BIOS); Press Enter
5. Copy the backed up BIOS to an external source
6. suflashrom –w {filename.ext}; Press Enter

Install Windows 10

1. Power down the Chromebook
2. Plug in an external keyboard
3. The keyboard and touchpad will not work until the drivers are installed
4. Plug in a flash drive with Windows 10 x64
5. Turn on the Chromebook
6. Follow the prompts
7. Install Windows 10 as usual
8. To install the keyboard and touch pad drivers successfully:
9. Run Command Prompt with Administrator
10. Type bcdedit /set testsigning on; Press Enter
11. Type shutdown /r /t 0 /f; Press Enter
12. A watermark will now appear that says Test Mode; but the drivers can now install successfully
13. Researching how to get properly signed drivers or hide the watermark
    

Special drivers can be found at the Google Doc that is linked above
This information was gathered from multiple sources on the Internet

 

[SuPaaaaa]

I actually bought one of these (with the i3 and 4gb of ram), swapped a larger m2 ssd inside and boot linux mint through crouton. All for less than 150$. It was an awesome laptop, until i got my surface pro 3 from work.

I passed it on to my sister, and though she doesnt exactly 'get' linux, she can use it for everything for school. Great purchase

 

[kentares]

Iand though she doesnt exactly 'get' linux, she can use it for everything for school. Great purchase

Love that quote! I get linux as an operating system just don't know the commands or nuts and bolts; know just enough to be really dangerous.