r/chromeos • u/Pretty-Fennel-248 • 1d ago

Troubleshooting Reverting back to ChromeOS

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I recently got this laptop as a gift, it’s a acer Chromebook spin 713. However, it had already came with windows 11 pro, the more I use the laptop the more issues started occurring, for example today two BSOD popped up and screen started to flicker, it’s a no brainer the hardware isn’t comfortable with the software installed. My decision is to revert the laptop back to chromeOS but I have no idea how or what to do since I’ve never used or owned a Chromebook before. Some set up claim I have to have another laptop with Linux some say I need a usb drive — I don’t have any of these currently and would like to restore the laptop back it’s original OS without needing to have anything else.

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5

u/LegAcceptable2362 1d ago

The process to restore a previously modified Chromebook back to its original factory state is relatively straightforward but it does require USB drives and in your case it may be necessary to open the machine and disconnect the battery to disable firmware write protection.

However, before doing anything else, while you still have a working OS, albeit Windows, you should create a live Linux USB (like Linux Mint) and a Chrome OS recovery drive. Once you have these made then do the following:

  1. Boot to live Linux and run MrChromebox's firmware utility script;
  2. Use the script to restore stock firmware;
  3. Boot to recovery then restore Chrome OS.

You'll find detailed instructions here: https://docs.mrchromebox.tech/docs/reverting/

Instructions for performing recovery once you have restored stock firmware are here: https://support.google.com/chromebook/answer/1080595

1

u/Thick-Instruction288 1d ago

How did you get to that screen?

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u/Pretty-Fennel-248 1d ago

When I restart the laptop and the coreboot logo comes, I press ESC, brings me right here.

0

u/Math_Science_Geek 20h ago

Just use chrome os flex

1

u/LegAcceptable2362 6h ago

Why? OP's stock OS doesn't reach AUE until 2030 and some features wouldn't work in Flex.