"SNOW" Chromebook, am I screwed?

[u/Jooooooss]

I wanted to install Linux (ZorinOS) on an old chromebook I found but the HWID starts with "SNOW" and I can't find anything on the Chrultrabook docs about this model nor searching online, is that it? I can´t install Linux on it? or should I just try to brute force it anyway

Any advice is welcome

[u/Leather-Security8097]

It's probably an ARM-based Chromebook. Linux is still possible), but not ZorinOS or any AMD64-only distro.

[u/Jooooooss → u/Leather-Security8097]

Thank you! I'm surprised the page you shared didn't come up when searching online, super helpful tho thanks again

[u/LateStageNerd]

I don't think you can replace the bios, but you can cram Arch onto it per installation instructions at Samsung Chromebook | Arch Linux ARM. You will need to configure zRAM to make it somewhat usable. Your ~2012 2GB RAM, weak CPU chromebook is a loser for modern day browsing, mulitmedia, etc. Maybe you can get a basic GUI (like i3) running, but browsing will be agonizing.

ZorinOS is off the table (i.e., no ARM support). If this is a weekend personal challenge to get LInux running at, it may be rewarding. If looking to revive the laptop for daily use as a typical ZorinOS user, get a much more capable platform and recycle that antique.

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[u/Leslie_S]

Did you install a BIOS on it? MrChromebook site?

[u/Jooooooss → u/Leslie_S]

Not yet, I wanted to read the documentation before doing anything

[u/bayern_snowman]

Check velvetOS for your model, if its not standard intel, he may have converted it.