Make your old PC fly again - ChromeOS Flex is free (critical update)

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Update: Warning (March 24, 2025)

After posting this article I noticed that Chrome OS Flex had made my USB unusable for any other purpose than installing Chrome OS Flex

I did find a solution by searching on the web. For me it was a combo of using MS DiskPart and a Linux tool called either Gparted or KDE Partition Manager (I can't remember as it was a while ago). The USB is fine now, but be prepared to do some digging in order to learn how to get your USB going again for any other purpose than installing Chrome OS Flex. There also is an old, unsupported USB-repair app by HP that might work. But it's hard to find and I'm not sure if it would work.

 Chrome really should tell us this but I don't remember seeing anything to that effect.

Back up all your data before installing Flex because it completely wipes your drive!

I recently installed ChromeOS Flex on an older laptop and am amazed with the results. If you only need to do stuff within the Google Chrome web browser environment, this is the way to go. No need to throw away your old PC because the Microsoft cabal says it cannot be upgraded to Windows 11.


There are different ways to install Flex. I used a very popular third-party tool called Rufus to make a bootable ISO. If that doesn't make any sense to you, maybe try the first way. However, my gut told me the bootable ISO method would be easier for me.

Here's the instructions link from Google:


Seriously. This old 2012 laptop (entry-level i3, 8 GB RAM) I am writing on has never been faster. I've ran it with Windows 7, 10, and the Linux distros called Lubuntu and Bodhi Linux. And ChromeOS Flex kills them all!

Mind you, not all machines will work with Flex. I have an HP All-In-One that someone tossed to the curb. Flex did install with that PC but the wifi was cutting in and out. No good. 

As inflation soars and toxic e-waste becomes a hazard around the globe, it just makes sense to try to use our electronic devices for as long as possible before discarding them.

I guess I was once regarded as a bit eccentric in this way. But I bet posterity will see me as I am.

Sensible!😄

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