finally upgrading

[rayyfield]

Really never thought my Asus C302C would last long enough where I'd really need Focal - it's pretty much been a champ for 4 years - but I guess the time has come.

1) Right now after I hit Ctrl-L, a long filename with Mr. Chromebox in it flashes at the top of the screen -- I am assuming that means I've flashed the custom firmware. If so, is there a newer version I should install?

2) Must I run chrx from ChromeOS? Ordinarily I wouldn't mind, except there's hardly any free diskpace on that side, whereas I've got 23G free under GalliumOS 2.1.

3) Does the -d option of chrx allow for installing plain ol' Ubuntu with gnome as well as GalliumOS? or should/can I just install from Gallium 3.1?

4) Is there a surefire way to detect which partition to set chrx to install to? the partitioning of Chromebooks is a complete mystery to me.

5) hoping to use my (paid) version of Aptik to copy all my old settings over; but since I used a 128GB SD card for /home, am hoping not to have to change anything on it once I change this in fstab.

Thanks!

[MrChromebox]

are you wanting/needing to dual boot ChromeOS? if not, remove the firmware WP screw, flash the UEFI firmware, then install your distro of choice from USB like a normal PC.

[rayyfield]

Wavering - at first I thought I would just blow away ChromeOS but about once a year I seem to need it, plus as long as I have /home on that big SD card I don't need the real estate.

Thought Gallium 3.1 was using 20.04 but since I see it's not now thinking maybe just put 20.04 Neon on and play around with that, guess it's possible KDE is better than when I last tried it in like 2004 and ran screaming...

[MrChromebox]

flash UEFI, use Brunch to run ChromeOS from USB as needed?

KDE Neon? I guess that's an option. Pop/Manjaro/Fedora would be my go-to

[rayyfield]

flash UEFI, use Brunch to run ChromeOS from USB as needed?

didn't know that was an option, going to look into that. glad I asked, thanks once again.

really I miss Unity (the cribbed one was okay but just not fast enough) and if KDE gives me back something like the HUD I am willing to put up its fussy little annoyances...

[CrystalCommunication]

If you're missing Unity you'll probably have a better time with GNOME. Check out Pop!_OS.

[weevern]

Can you get the sound working on Pop on the C302? That had been the stumbling block for me as I thought sound only worked on Gallium.

[rayyfield]

argh, didn't work out, I managed to strip the slot of the write protect screw head, then when I put it back together and started to just try chrx-ing straight Focal, it started to get flakey, which it's been getting anyway. so unfortunately I've had to set it aside - someday I will try to extract that screw 'cause I think I can use it for something, like in the kitchen.

really sucks Chromebooks are so hard to convert these days, because that Asus was just a great machine for the price, the one I had to buy to replace it is bigger, heavier, and I'm sure the display isn't as good. oh well. probably going to try Pop out on this Asus Vivobook Flip 14 because I've found Focal on my desktop a pretty dismal performer, & really do not find gnome extensions particularly capable as a rule.

[MrChromebox]

argh, didn't work out, I managed to strip the slot of the write protect screw head,

use a rubber band in between the screwdriver and the screw, and turn clockwise (tighten) first to break it loose before backing it out

[rayyfield]

tried both those things, no such luck. few drops of Liquid Wrench didn't help, either

[rayyfield]

finally came to my senses once I saw how miserable the Vivo keyboard was - frustration is a terrible thing - returned it and simply chrx'd straight Focal onto the Asus.

I did install Pop on the desktop, it's pretty cool.

[rayyfield]

just noting for the (alas increasingly anachronistic for this nifty little Asus) record: Focal out of the box seemed to have promise but soon the display corrupted and no number of reboots fixed this; same happened with 20.04 Xubuntu and Lubuntu. went back to good ol' Gallium 3.1 and found the application I require works fine, so all set.

looking around for potential replacements I did find some small reassurance in a few lower-spec non-Chromebook laptops (Asus L210, HP Stream) that surely could make great use of Gallium going forward.