The Ultimate Guide to Install Crouton on Chromebook
Chromebooks have become increasingly popular over the years, thanks to their affordability, speed, and convenience. However, the limited functionality of Chrome OS can be a major drawback for some users. Fortunately, there is a solution: Crouton. Crouton is a tool that allows you to run Linux alongside Chrome OS on your Chromebook, giving you access to a wide range of powerful applications and tools. In this article, we’ll show you how to install Crouton on your Chromebook, step-by-step.
Section One: Understanding Crouton
What is Crouton?
Crouton is a set of scripts that allow you to install and run a full Linux operating system on your Chromebook. It works by creating a chroot environment, which is a separate directory tree that contains all the necessary files, libraries, and applications to run Linux. Crouton allows you to switch between Chrome OS and Linux with a simple key combination, giving you the best of both worlds.
Why Install Crouton?
There are several reasons why you might want to install Crouton on your Chromebook. Firstly, it gives you access to a wide range of powerful applications and tools that are not available on Chrome OS. Linux has a vast software library, including programming tools, multimedia software, and productivity applications. Secondly, it allows you to customize your Chromebook to your liking. Linux is highly customizable, and you can tweak almost every aspect of the operating system to suit your needs. Finally, it’s a great way to learn Linux. If you’re new to Linux, installing it on your Chromebook is a great way to get started.
Section Two: Preparing Your Chromebook
Check Your Chromebook Compatibility
Before you begin, you need to make sure that your Chromebook is compatible with Crouton. Not all Chromebooks can run Linux, so it’s important to check if your device is supported. You can check the list of supported devices on the Crouton GitHub page.
Enable Developer Mode
To install Crouton, you need to enable developer mode on your Chromebook. This will allow you to access the command line and install Linux. Enabling developer mode will also wipe all the data on your Chromebook, so make sure you back up your files before proceeding.
To enable developer mode, follow these steps:
- Turn off your Chromebook.
- Press and hold the Esc and Refresh keys, then press the Power button.
- When the “Chrome OS is missing or damaged” screen appears, press Ctrl + D.
- Press Enter to confirm that you want to enable developer mode.
- Wait for your Chromebook to reboot and for the “OS verification is OFF” screen to appear.
Section Three: Installing Crouton
Download Crouton
The next step is to download the Crouton script. You can download the latest version of Crouton from the official GitHub page. Once you’ve downloaded the script, move it to your Downloads folder.
Install Crouton
To install Crouton, follow these steps:
- Open the Chrome OS terminal by pressing Ctrl + Alt + T.
- Type “shell” and press Enter.
- Type “sudo sh ~/Downloads/crouton -t xfce” (replace “xfce” with your preferred desktop environment) and press Enter.
- Wait for the installation to complete. This may take several minutes, depending on your internet connection and the speed of your Chromebook.
Start Crouton
To start Crouton, follow these steps:
- Open the Chrome OS terminal by pressing Ctrl + Alt + T.
- Type “shell” and press Enter.
- Type “sudo startxfce4″ (replace “xfce4″ with your preferred desktop environment) and press Enter.
Section Four: Using Crouton
Switching Between Chrome OS and Linux
To switch between Chrome OS and Linux, press Ctrl + Alt + Shift + Back or Ctrl + Alt + Shift + Forward. This will switch between the two operating systems.
Installing Applications
To install applications on Crouton, you can use the terminal to install packages using the apt-get command. For example, to install the GIMP image editor, you can type “sudo apt-get install gimp” and press Enter.
Conclusion
Installing Crouton on your Chromebook is a great way to unlock its full potential. With Linux, you can run powerful applications and customize your Chromebook to your liking. By following the steps outlined in this article, you can install Crouton on your Chromebook and start using Linux today.