Install Windows On Asus Chrome Box

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Apr 28, 2020 Once you have sorted out your hardware (and it is a new install) just set it to UEFI and install Windows 10. I think that Windows 10 automatically sets up bitlocker and my advice for that is to get a copy of the key and backup any valuable data for unseen issues.

  • A Chromebox is a small desktop computer that runs Google's Chrome operating system, and you can use one to access virtually any streaming video service available on the web.
  • Select the version of Windows you want to install (Windows 10 Home or Pro is recommended), then select Next and accept the license agreement. Select Custom: Install Windows only (advanced). Delete all of the partitions listed (ignore the warnings) so that you only have unallocated space on your hard drive.

I recently successfully dual booted Ubuntu on an ASUS X555LA laptop,the X555LAB variety. This guide will work on most Ubuntu derivatives,I installed Xubuntu using these steps. The only things that are differentbetween them are window managers and preinstalled software.

Specs:

Intel(R) Core(TM) i5-5200U CPU @ 2.20GHz, max: 2.70GHz
Intel® HD Graphics 5500
8GB RAM, 1TB HDD
1920x1080 screen, 2xUSB3.0, 1xUSB2.0

Here’s a step by step guide to what I needed to do.

Download Ubuntu

  1. You must use a 64bit version.
  2. You should use 16.04 or later(earlier versions may work but may require different instructions).

Burn to a DVD-R

  1. Double click the .iso file.
  2. Windows Disc Burner should open, if using Windows.
  3. Burn to a disc, I suggest enabling the “verify disc after burn” option.

Disable fast startup in Windows 10

  1. Search for “power options” using search.
  2. Click “change what the buttons do”.
  3. Click something like “show hidden/disabled settings”. It will be alink or button at the top with a UAC badge next to it.
  4. Uncheck the fast startup checkbox near the bottom of the page.
  5. Apply changes.

Disable fast boot in UEFI settings

Chromebox
  1. Click Windows flag, click power options, click “restart” whilst holding shift.
  2. Wait for computer to go into an options menu.
  3. Click trouble shooting.
  4. Click advanced.
  5. Click change UEFI settings.
  6. Go to boot tab.
  7. Disable “fast boot”.
  8. You do not need to disable secure boot.

Install Windows On Asus Chrome Box Specs

Check boot order

The only option should be: “Windows Boot Manager”.

Install Ubuntu

  1. Insert disc and restart computer
  2. When booting, a blue menu should come up. It’ll have a Windows Boot Manager option,a disc option, and an UEFI settings option. Select the disc option.If this menu does not appear, restart and press esc during the “ASUS” logo.
  3. A GRUB menu screen will now appear. If it does not appear, then the disc hasn’tbeen loaded in UEFI mode.
  4. Select “Install Ubuntu”.
  5. Install as normal. You’ll need to disable “install sources from third party providers”as that will disable secure boot and break windows - don’t worry,you can install many of these things later.
  6. On the partitions manager, Files (sda5) is the Windows partition,and Ubuntu (sda6) is the Ubuntu partition.Note that they won’t add up to a full 1TB, as the laptop comes with twopartitions already.

Problems

Here are some problems.

  • The touchpad was super sensitive and I often clicked whilst typing, deleting text.
    • Solution: add touchpad delay (Settings -> Mouse -> Touchpad)
  • Occasional WiFi problems
    • sudo service network-manager restart
  • Fixed as of 16.10 Locking causes the mouse to disappear when unlocking. Work arounds:
    • ctrl+alt+f1 then ctrl+alt+f7
    • Move mouse between monitor boundaries if dual booting
  • Fixed as of 16.10 Occasionally when web browsing, tears appear making some text unreadable.
    • A work around is to press ctrl+a, which causes the page to re-render.
Windows

These problems are made up for that fact that 1. you now have a real terminaland 2. double tapping doesn’t break like on Windows (damn ASUS Smart Touch).

See also

Thanks for reading this. For more info, see:ubuntu.com/community/UEFI/.

Install Windows On Asus Chromebox Chromebook

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If you’re thinking of buying a Chromebox this holiday season, whether as a gift for yourself or a treat for a loved one, let me say that I am not surprised.

Super inexpensive and super versatile, these little PCs cater to casual computing needs with ease, ship with first-class security and should continue to receive free software upgrades, fixes and new features for many, many years to come.

And with Chromeboxes from the likes of HP and ASUS being long-term residents of Amazon’s ‘Top 10 Best Selling PCs‘ list you start to see why I’m “not surprised”.

I’m Thinking Of Buying a Chromebox. What Should I Know?

It doesn’t matter whether you want to buy a Chromebox to replace a wheezing, creaking old Windows tower PC or for use as an energy-efficient ‘kiosk computer’ or signage driver for your business. Chromeboxes are versatile enough to suit most use cases.

I say most because although a fantastic buy they will not be for everyone. Those who do a lot of HD video editing, rely on software not available for Chrome OS, or have poor internet access are better off with a more traditional computer.

But, since you’re reading this, I’m going to wager you know the pros and cons of Chrome OS itself. But on the hardware side there are a few things to consider and make a note of before committing to buy.

You May Need To ‘Bring Your Own Keyboard and Mouse’

Chromeboxes are typically sold on their own. You get the main “PC” unit, a power cable and a manual. Everything else is just packaging.

The reason why they’re sold as such is as much to keep costs down as it is the fact that most of us have a compatible/favourite keyboard and mouse set lying around somewhere in the house.

Obviously, if you don’t, you’ll need to pick a set up from Amazon, Staples, eBay, etc. Most Bluetooth and USB-powered peripherals will work, but those that rely on infrared proprietary dongles or base stations may not.

Not all Chromeboxes are sold alone. Some brands offer ‘bundles’ that add a branded Chrome keyboard and mouse set to the purchase price.

As a side note, Dell recently began selling a wired USB keyboard designed for Chromeboxes for just $20.

You Will Need To Add A Monitor

Another “BYO” item is a monitor or screen (though depending on the retailer you buy from you may be offered a discount on the price of a monitor if purchased at the same time).

The good news is that, as with keyboard and mice, you probably already have a monitor or small TV you can reuse.

Next step: check that it’s compatible.

All “current generation” Chromeboxes come with both a full-sized HDMI out port and a full-sized DisplayPort out.

If the monitor you plan to use requires a VGA or DVI connection (see graphic above) you can still use it with your Chrome PC but you will need to buy a relevant DisplayPort-to-VGA or HDMI-to-VGA adapter first. These can be picked up fairly cheaply from places like Amazon, eBay and computer stores.

If hunting down/buying monitors, cables and keyboards sounds like too much hassle you might want to consider the LG Chromebase. It’s a cheap all-in-one Chrome OS PC so the computer is built into the monitor. It has built-in speakers, an HDMI in port so you can use it as a DVD player or external monitor for a laptop, and has a wired (if hardly exceptional) keyboard and mouse set.

Hardware

Install Windows On Asus Chrome Box

Explore your Processor Choices

Chromeboxes are similar in many regards but they are not all made equal. Some are faster or have more storage, while others permit you to upgrade components yourself.

Most Chromebox “entry models” come fitted out with a dual-core Intel Celeron (Haswell) 2995U or 2957U processor running at 1.4GHz. These CPUs are speedy enough for most tasks, and paired with integrated graphics, you get a decent balance between performance, cost and energy efficiency.

If you can spend a bit more then a mid-range model sporting an Intel Core i3 processor may be a good bet, while those with top-end tastes can pay for a model with an Intel Core i5 or i7.

But keep in mind your needs: benchmarks show that the Celeron CPUs offer great performance for their cost, so don’t pay over the odds needlessly.

Graphics

All Chromeboxes offer the same graphics option: integrated Intel HD Graphics 4000. Yeah, I know: it conjures up a mental image of lag and stutter and poor performance.

But forget all that. Integrated Graphics have come a long way since the days of Intel’s GMA offerings, and the Intel HD Graphics 4000 most ‘boxes have handles HD multimedia content, some fairly immersive games and more without breaking a sweat.

Thinking About Memory

In 2012 most Chromeboxes shipped with 4GB RAM installed as standard. 2014 and that has fallen to a more modest 2GB.

Box

There are a number of reasons for this, but the big one is price: profit margins are very tight, and 2GB vs 4GB in Chrome OS doesn’t yield a dramatic performance increase. We’re talking pages loading a few milliseconds quicker and better responsiveness when opening 30 tabs as opposed to 20.

While Windows may lag a little on 2GB RAM, in Chrome OS it’s more than enough memory to cover basic needs with room to spare. 2GB is not as limiting with Chrome OS as it would be with a heavier operating system.

Not that 4GB is pointless. But the price you pay on top for such models is more than it’d cost you to buy a 2GB version and add extra RAM yourself. And memory upgrades aren’t difficult to perform on certain Chromeboxes, like the HP (1 SO-DIMM slot) and ASUS (2 SO-DIMM slots). Just remove the feet, unscrew the base, pop it off, and swap out/add more memory.

Others models, including the Acer CXI and Dell Chromebox, ship with their memory modules soldered onto the motherboard. While theoretically replaceable, unless you’re adept at removing and re-soldering circuits, it’s best avoided.

Another downside is that despite the low cost of RAM upgrades the DIY approach may, depending on manufacturer, void any warranty.

Both ASUS and HP Chromeboxes use 204-pin SODIMM DDR3L modules @ 1600 MHz (also listed as ‘DDR3L PC3-12800’). You can pick up an extra 2GB stick for as little as $18 on Amazon.com, a single 4GB for around $32 and a single 8GB module for $60.

Upgrading Other Components

Memory upgrades aside you’ll find that most Chromeboxes do not let you swap out other parts, and those that do are limited in what they support.

So you can’t add a beefier graphics card or add a FireWire card, and you can’t swap out the processor for a faster, compatible socket sibling.

The ASUS Chromebox allows the built-in ‘eMMC’ flash storage to be swapped out but only for a compatible M2 SATA III SSD. Do some research beforehand as not all makes of SSDs are reported to work.

And don’t forget that while 16GB may sound too small for a desktop you do get 100GB (or, if you buy before the end of December, 1TB) of free online Google Drive storage.

Chrome OS also supports external USB hard drives, thumb drives and SD cards, and can read files mounted via MTP.

There’s no CD or DVD Drive

Most modern computers no longer include a disc drive, and Chromeboxes (and Chromebooks) are no exception: they do not come with a built-in CD or DVD drive.

This is an important consideration if you (or the person you’re buying for) regularly listen to music CDs or watches DVDs on your computer.

And you can’t simply hook up an external CD or DVD drive either, as Chrome OS does not natively support them.

Ports & Connectivity

Chromeboxes offer a huge number of ports for connecting your devices, monitors and extras. All newer models ship with USB 3.0, too.

Expect to find:

Asus Chromebox Specs

  • Full-size HDMI Out
  • Full-size DisplayPort (the HP model has two)
  • 4x USB 3.0
  • Full-size SD card slot
  • Gigabit Ethernet
  • Audio in/out jack
  • Built-in Wi-Fi
  • Bluetooth 4.0 LE

If you’re looking at an older Samsung Chromebox you’ll find a number of differences: no DisplayPort, full-width DVI out, and USB 2.0 rather than 3.0.

Box

Think Chromebox, Think TARDIS

Finally, be prepared for how small these things are. The British science-fiction series Doctor Who features a transdimensional time machine (‘TARDIS’) that is far, far, far bigger on the inside than you’d ever guess from the outside.

Trade physical space for power and possibility, and they’re pretty similar!

Install Windows On Asus Chromebox Celeron

Going Further

Install Windows On Asus Chromebox Core I5

If you’re looking for a small, inexpensive but secure PC a Chromebox is well worth considering. While there are “tradeoffs” coming from a more traditional PC, most of these aren’t really negatives, just differences. Progress, even.