How To Install Windows 10 On A Chromebook In 2019

In Chromebooks, Tutorials, Video, Windows by dbtech

In late 2018 I made a video about how to install Windows 10 on a Chromebook. The video was popular, but it missed several things and caused a fair amount of confusion. I made follow up videos that ended up leading people on a wild goose chase. I want to apologize for that so I created this new tutorial. It is more in-depth and, hopefully, easier to follow along with. The new video shows, again, hopefully, all of the steps to make this process as easy as possible.

With all that being said, let’s jump into this.

Timestamps

Step 1.

Watch this video in its entirety. 

I cannot stress this enough. Please watch the video all the way through before starting for yourself. Also, read the description. This is equally as important. If you get stuck half way through because you didn’t read the description, that’s on you.

Step 2.

Make sure your Chromebook is compatible

Look up the processor that your Chromebook has. Flip your Chromebook over and look at the sticker on the bottom. The sticker should tell you the exact model of Chromebook you have. Use that information to search on Google to see what processor your Chromebook has.

In order for this to work, you MUST have an Intel processor. If you don’t have an Intel processor, this tutorial will not work and is NOT for you.

Once you have determined that you have an Intel processor, make sure it is compatible with this process:

*If your Chromebook processor is NOT listed, then STOP. This will not work with your Chromebook.

Another way to see if your device is supported is to take a look at this link on MrChromebox’s website: https://mrchromebox.tech/#devices

Also, you need to make sure that you have at LEAST 32GB of hard drive space on your Chromebook. This is the minimum requirement per Microsoft. If you have less than that, you most likely won’t be able to install any of the updates when/if you get Windows 10 installed. Again, you need AT LEAST 32GB of hard drive space to install Windows 10.

Step 3.

Gather your supplies

Step 4.

Create your Windows bootable USB

  • Insert an 8+GB USB drive into your computer**
  • Go to https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows10
  • Under “Create Windows 10 installation media”, click “Download tool now”
  • Open the “MediaCreationTool****.exe” file that you just downloaded
  • Read the license terms and click the “Accept” button
  • Select “Create installation media (USB flash drive, DVD, or ISO file) for another PC”
  • Click Next
  • Make sure that the Language is your language.
  • Make sure the Edition is Windows 10
  • Make sure  the Architecture is 64-bit (x64)
  • Click Next
  • Select “USB flash drive”
  • Click Next
  • On the “Select a USB flash drive” screen, select your 8+GB USB drive
  • Click Next
  • This process will take several minutes
  • Once the process is complete, click “Finish” and remove your USB drive

**This process will remove EVERYTHING from your USB drive

Step 5.

Put your Chromebook into Developer mode

  • This will remove EVERYTHING from your Chromebook
  • Power on your Chromebook and immediately start tapping CTRL+D
  • Press Enter to put your Chromebook into Developer mode
  • This process will take several minutes to complete. Mine took nearly 20 minutes
  • When it completes, your Chromebook will reboot automatically
  • Go through the setup process enough to connect to the internet
  • You don’t need to sign in. You can “Browse as Guest”

Start Converting Your Chromebook

  • Open Chrome and then press Ctrl + Alt + T to open a terminal screen
  • Type: shell
    • If you get a message saying that “shell isn’t a recognized command” then you aren’t in developer mode. Go back to step 5
  • If you don’t get an error, then proceed by typing the following:
    • cd ~; curl -L -O https://coolstar.org/chromebook/setup-firmware.sh && sudo bash setup-firmware.sh
      • Please note that it is a ~ NOT a –
      • If you get the error message, “Firmware download checksum failed; Download corrupted, cannot flash.” then use the Alternate Method below
      • YOU DO NOT NEED TO INSTALL CURL. IT IS ALREADY INSTALLED.
  • You should get a screen that says “ChromeOS Firmware Utility Script” at the top
  • Press 1 to Install/Update Full ROM Firmware
  • Read the Standard disclaimer. If you wish to proceed, press Y and Enter
  • Read the next disclaimer. If you wish to proceed, press Y and Enter
  • When you get to the “Create a backup copy of your stock firmware” press Y
  • Insert your second/empty USB drive and then press Enter
  • Press the number that corresponds to your empty USB drive and press Enter
  • When the backup is complete, it will tell you to remove the USB drive and press Enter. Do that
  • The script will now download and install the Full ROM Firmware
  • When you see “Full ROM firmware successfully installed/updated” you can press Enter
  • You should be back at the “ChromeOS Firmware Utility Script” page
  • Insert your Windows 10 bootable USB
  • Press R and then Enter to reboot

Firmware Download Checksum Fail; Download Corrupted, Cannot Flash

There is another script that I hear is more current that can be run and is as follows:

  • cd; curl -LO https://mrchromebox.tech/firmware-util.sh && sudo bash firmware-util.sh
  • YOU DO NOT NEED TO INSTALL CURL. IT IS ALREADY INSTALLED.

If you use this script, you’ll still want to “Install/Update Full ROM Firmware”. This should be option 3 instead of option 1.

Installing Windows

At this point, 1 of 2 things will happen. Either the Windows 10 installer will start or you’ll get a screen with a lot of text on it that has a cursor blinking at you from the bottom.

If the Windows installer starts automatically, go to step 5a.

If the blinking cursor screen comes up, go to step 5b.

Step 5a

Installing Windows Normally

  • Select Your language, time, and keyboard settings and click Next
  • Click “Install Now”
  • Enter your Windows 10 Activation Key or click “I don’t have a product key” if you don’t have a product key
  • Select the version of Windows you would like to install
  • Click Next
  • Read and accept the terms
  • Click Next
  • Select “Custom: Install Windows only (advanced)”
  • Delete each of the partitions listed on your storage drive
  • Click Next
  • It will think for a while and then take you to a screen to select your region
  • Select your region and click Yes
  • Select the appropriate keyboard layout and click Yes
  • Either add an additional keyboard layout or click Skip
  • Select your wireless network and connect to it
  • Click Next
  • Windows will download any necessary updates at this point
  • On the next screen, you’ll probably want to select “Set up for personal use”
  • Click Next
  • Next you’ll create a user account. You can either sign in with a Microsoft account or with an offline account. I use offline accounts, but the choice is yours.
  • After your account is setup, you’ll be asked a series of questions to personalize your Windows 10 experience. Go through each of those steps and make the selections that best suit your needs.

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The installer will go through the process of setting up Windows and you should land on the Windows 10 desktop. At this point, you can remove the Windows 10 USB drive from your Chromebook.

Write Protect Screw Issue

Your Chromebook may or may not have a write-protect screw. My Acer C720 had one, but I’ve received multiple comments from people saying that their Chromebook didn’t have one. You’re going to have to Google whether or not yours has one.

Step 5b

Installing Windows from the blinking cursor

If you get this screen, you’ll need to reboot your Chromebook and start tapping the ESC key to get into the BIOS screen.

  • Select “Boot Maintenance Manager”
  • Select “Boot From File”
  • Select the USB drive from the list
  • Select efi
  • Select boot
  • Select bootx64.efi

Your Chromebook should then boot from the USB device and you can begin in the install process by going to Step 5a.

Step 6

Installing Drivers

Next, you’ll want to go back to the coolstar.org website to download the necessary drivers for your Chromebook.

On this page, you should see a list of devices that have drivers available for your Chromebook. Download the .zip files and/or .exe files. Extract and/or run the files as necessary. After you’ve installed all the drivers for your Chromebook, be sure to reboot so that they can be correctly loaded into memory.

That’s it. Windows 10 should be installed and working appropriately at this.

Going Back To Stock

If you want to go back to stock, here’s a video about that:

MUSIC

  • Music Licensed from Epidemic Sound
  • Track: Hundo P
  • Artist: Wesky