Do not throw your old laptop, you can give it a second life by making a chromebook

Unfortunately, computers are not for a lifetime (or any electronic device). With the time that old equipment is starting to be noticedAnd even the manufacturers and responsible for their updates forget them and stop updating them, although there are developers who resist longer.

However, you do not need to throw this computer that you saved in the drawer after having replaced it with a more recent. It is possible to give it a second lifeWe only need a lighter and less demanding operating system, ideal for browsing the Internet and using web applications, those that we are constantly using even in our latest generation computer.

Chrome OS Flex, an operating system to give your old laptop a second life

The idea of ​​giving a new life to a limited or old material laptop is not new, but in recent years, new alternatives have been born, some very interesting. Years ago What I used to do was opt for a Linux distributionI have gone through several: Ubuntu, Debian and Linux Mint, emphasizes the latter being quite light and effective.

But Google has an operating system called OS Flex chrome which allows Give new life to the old teams. We must not confuse it with Chrome OS, they are different: Flex is a system with cloud management centered on Internet connection, ideal for web applications and, of course, for all that we can do with chrome.

In our tests, we could Transform a 2014 MacBook Pro A Chromebook With Chrome OS Flex. You can see how my partner Eva has done, documenting all her experience in Genbeta.

According to Google, Chrome OS Flex is compatible with computers that have reached the market over the past 10 years or more. They have an in -depth list of certified models, with the following requirements:

• Architecture X86-64 of Intel
• Processor and GPU after 2010
• At least 4 GB of RAM
• At least 16 GB of storage

Comply with the requirements, The installation process is very easyEspecially if we use the chromebooks recovery tool, an extension that will help us, step by step, to create the installation unit.

How to install Chrome OS Flex on an old computer

• We access the Chrome OS Flex website and click where he said: “Are you interested in using Chrome OS Flex at home? Click here. “Or just We click here.
• We install the chromebooks recovery tool from this link and follow the steps indicated by this extension, including The use of a pendrive with at least 8 GB of storage To create the starting unit. Keep in mind that the hanging will format, eliminating all its content.
• In the process of creating the starting unit, we select as product and manufacturer Google Chrome OS Flex, we follow the following steps, then we hope. The process takes about 15 minutes And it is important not to deactivate the equipment or get the pendrive during this period, or to lose access to the Internet.

• In the old computer, we support all the files that we want to save, because when installing Chrome OS Flex, the process will eliminate the entire previous system and its files.
• We present USB memory in the old computer (while it is disabled) and we maintain the key necessary to enter the BIOS and, thus, choose the USB as a starting unit. The key varies depending on the manufacturerThese are among the most common:

• After starting the installation process, We follow the steps on the screen and voila. Once the process is completed, the laptop will have the Chrome OS Flex operating system so you can give it new life, either use it as a secondary computer, or to give it to a parent who can take advantage of it.

The whole process is really simple. In the case of my partner Eva, he comments that It took less than half an hour andn Create the starting unit and install the operating system in its MacBook Pro a decade ago. Giving new use for our old devices not only allows us to continue to use them, but also decreases the number of devices that end up rejecting in the trash can.

This is something that we can also do with old mobiles, making surveillance cameras, GPS browsers or even a television order.

Cover image | Eva Rodríguez de Luis

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A previous version of this article was published in March 2024. It was revised and updated again.