**[size=3]Chromebook to Tuxbook
Conversion of an Acer 720 Chromebook to OpenSuse LEAP 42.2 Tuxbook [/size]
Why would anyone want to void their warranty on a brand new piece of equipment and take the risk? Curiosity and convenience I suppose.
I already had a working Leap 42.2 Desktop, but it is a bit too bulky to tote around in this mobile age.
THE FOLLOWING WILL VOID your warranty. Proceed at your own risk.
This conversion is based on…
References
- In large part on the reddit post
Getting OpenSuse 13.2 installed on chromebook c720
https://www.reddit.com/r/openSUSE/comments/2obhta/getting_opensuse_132_installed_on_chromebook_c720/
- ROM Download - the essential piece!
https://johnlewis.ie/custom-chromebook-firmware/rom-download/
- Chromebook Recovery Utility
Materials List
1 - Currently operating Linux desktop/laptop
1 - Acer 720 Chromebook, 2GB RAM, M.2 16GB SSD (can be purchased for < $200)
1 - 128GB SSD upgrade (42mm (2242) SATAIII/6G M.2 NGFF Solid State Drive (price ~ $45)
4 - 16 GB USB Sticks (bought a box of 10 for $35)
**
Preparation**
- Downloaded full Leap 42.2 Image
Do this on a working linux desktop/laptop.
http://software.opensuse.org/422/en
Selected: 4.7GB DVD (also suitable for USB stick)
“How to Proceed
After having successfully downloaded the ISO image(s), create a bootable USB stick or burn the image(s) to a DVD (or a CD if the chosen image fits).
More information on creating a bootable USB stick.”
I then used the Live USB Stick “Using SUSE Studio Image Writer” method. It was seemless!
https://en.opensuse.org/Live_USB_stick
Result -> 1 Leap 42.2 Installation USB Stick
- Backup Chromebook OS (optional)
Do this on your Chromebook
Ensure Chromebook is updated. Create a backup USB Stick using the Chrome Recovery Utility.
Result -> 1 Chromebook backup USB Stick*.
- Coreboot Firmware Backup (optional)
I cannot recall where the link is. I booted Chromebook in developer mode (ESC + -> key (right arrow, aka Refresh) + Power button
Did not login into the ChromeOS,
and saved the gbb and vorpd files to a USB Stick
I did this since I was doing a FULL ROM Image write.
I did go into the terminal Alt + F2, logged in as chronos
Result -> 1 Coreboot ROM USB Stick (I do not need now, I have Tuxbook!)
Execution
4. Power off Chromebook, and install new SSD. To do this, you must remove all screws on the bottom. Breaking the seal on a certain one does void your warranty.
The next several steps are directly from Reference 1, above.
- Remove the ROM write disable screw.
The screw is VERY tight. Make sure you have a nice #1 Apex bit, and a good screw driver or apex holder that yoiu can keep pressure on and apply torque.
It is much more difficult to remove than the case screws.
“The screw you will need to remove is the number 7 on the picture below (needless to say by doing this your warranty will be voided). http://www.chromium.org/_/rsrc/1381990807648/chromium-os/developer-information-for-chrome-os-devices/acer-c720-chromebook/c720-chromebook-annotated-innards.png”
-
“Once that’s done, boot the chromebook back into ChromeOS”
-
“Press Ctrl + alt + F2 to open up a shell”
-
“At the ChromeOS login prompt, type chronos and hit Enter”
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Next, as opposed to what the Opensuse 13.2 post mentioned, do NOT “sudo bash”. The next step must be run as user (not root).
cd; rm -f flash_chromebook_rom.sh; curl -O https://johnlewis.ie/flash_chromebook_rom.sh; sudo -E bash flash_chromebook_rom.sh
(I think Option 4 of this script (sudo -E bash flash_chromebook_rom.sh) is where I was able to do the coreboot dump. If you do that, just run sudo -E bash flash_chromebook_rom.sh again to do the actual flash (Option 5)
I selected Option 5, Full ROM, and needed to type some answers verbatum.
“If this bricks my peppy, on my head be it!” – No quotes of course. That was funny!
-
Put in the Leap 42.2 Installation USB Stick. Power down, need to hold power for 8 seconds - that is normal for this Chromebook power off timing.
-
Power on by holding power for about 2 seconds then hit ESC to get to the boot menu. Sometimes it is hard to time it, so if you miss it, just hold power button for 8 seconds to power off, then retry. It took me a few times to get the timing.
-
From the boot menu, select USB (Option 2) boot.
-
Leap splash screen loads instantly. Optionally Set Video (F3 (Refresh button). Select Installation.
-
Partitions. The disk is checked during the installation process. My “new” drives" had some partitions on them, because I did a chromeos install on them first.
If the suggested partition setup shows ANY partitions to be removed, then do the following, otherwise you should be able to accept the suggested setup.
If so, it is best to go into Expert in the Partition utility and delete each partition. Then add (at least) these:
Add #1 - 7.84 MB, RAW, (no format) BIOS GRUB
Add #2 - 2 GB as swap
Add #3 - 109.78 GB (remaining amount) as Operating System, Btrfs, mount as /
- Continue with Installation.
My package installation (I selected KDE) ran from 10:35 to 10:47, 12 minutes.
After installation completes, Leap re-boots.
-
I logged in and ran
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KGPG add key. Network Manager uses the kwallet which is why I added my GPG key, and use GPG for my wallet
-
Using NetworkManager (lower right hand of desktop in the tray) Connected to my wireless network (WPA).
-
Run Yast Online Update. This takes a while as there are many updates to download and install.
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To Fix the Hotkeys you will need to add the X11 utils repo
Start Firefox (we will get to Chrome soon) and go to
https://software.opensuse.org/download.html?project=X11%3AUtilities&package=xbindkeys
Select Opensuse, then Leap 42.2, do the 1 Click Install
This will add the repo as well as xbindkeys.
- set up bindkeys
(use vi or nano, or whatever editor)
vi ~/.xbindkeysrc
Backward, Forward, Full Screen & Refresh is just for web browser
#Backward
“xvkbd -xsendevent -text “\A[Left]””
m:0x0 + c:67
F1
#Full Screen
“xvkbd -xsendevent -text “[F11]””
m:0x0 + c:70
F4
#Forward
“xvkbd -xsendevent -text “\A[Right]””
m:0x0 + c:68
F2
#Refresh
“xvkbd -xsendevent -text “\Cr””
m:0x0 + c:69
F3
#Switch Window
"xvkbd -xsendevent -text "\A “”
m:0x0 + c:71
F5
“xbacklight -dec 10”
m:0x0 + c:72
F6
“xbacklight -inc 10”
m:0x0 + c:73
F7
“amixer set Master toggle”
m:0x0 + c:74
F8
“amixer set Master 10%- unmute”
m:0x0 + c:75
F9
“amixer set Master 10%+ unmute”
m:0x0 + c:76
F10
“xvkbd -xsendevent -text ‘[Delete]’”
Alt + BackSpace
“xvkbd -xsendevent -text ‘[End]’”
Alt + Right
“xvkbd -xsendevent -text ‘[Home]’”
Alt + Left
“xvkbd -xsendevent -text ‘[Page_Down]’”
Alt + Down
“xvkbd -xsendevent -text ‘[Page_Up]’”
Alt + Up
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Add backlight
In Firefox https://software.opensuse.org/package/xbacklight
Select Leap 42.2, Show unstable packages -
Then add xvkbd. In konsole, > sudo zypper in xvkbd
*Note I had already added myself into sudoers. -
KDE will execute it after running a script, nano or vi
> vi xbindkeys.sh
#!/bin/bash
xbindkeys &
chmod +x xbindkeys.sh
-
Go to Settings - Configure Desktop - Startup and Shutdown - Add Script
browse to link to xbindkeys.sh
The next time KDE starts, you get hot keys! -
Add Chrome (optional)
Yast - Repositiories
Add google-chrome
URL: http://dl.google.com/linux/chrome/rpm/stable/x86_64 -
Log out, maybe just re-boot to make sure all changes take affect. I think the Online Updates required it anyway.
-
Log in, you should be able to dim/brighten using hot keys, etc.
P.S.
Using bluetooth, I could not figure out how to direct my google play music stream to blue tooth audio. I was connected via the tray utility. So I clicked Volume - Applications and ‘dragged’ my play stream to the ‘Built-in Analog Audio’.
It worked but sounded terrible.
So googling that, I found out that you need to go into
Settings - Configure Desktop - Multimedia
Set the Configuration Profile for the bluetooth device (in my case it is a Lifejacket2) to High Fidelity Playback (A2DP Sink)
So the Tuxbook perfectly runs Netflix from within Chrome.
When trying to pipe the audio to the BT speaker, there is a delay.
Oh well. I still got the perfect laptop!
**