Can I install software on my Chromebook? – This is one of the first questions new Chromebook users ask. And the answer is yes and no. Well, it used to be mostly. WINE does not and will not work on the ARM Chromebook, as Windows executables are i386/x64, and WINE runs them directly (it is not an emulator). It works fine on x86-based Chromebooks using the version in the repositories.

Chromebooks are optimized to run ChromeOS. If you’re running Windows, or even Mac programs, you’ll find they don’t run on the Chromebook. Google designed the Chromebooks as easy and reliable laptops. That doesn’t mean you can’t run Windows programs on Chromebooks, it’s just not obvious how. Image via The Really Hard Way: Install Windows If you have an Intel-based Chromebook like the Acer C720, installing Windows isn’t that hard.

The problem with the installation is the drivers. Recently, created drivers for most of the Chromebook’s functions. Vital functions like the trackpad, brightness, or HDMI audio don’t work on the Chromebook running Windows 8.1. He got Windows programs to run though and to prove it. Mac OS on a Chromebook? Coolstar.

Gears Of War 3 Full Game Pc Torrent here. The Problem with This Solution Image via Windows programs on Chromebooks will run, but it misses the point of a Chromebook. Windows takes up about a 1/3 of the flash storage and.

The battery life takes a big hit running Windows and now you’re susceptible to malware on your Chromebook. I tried it for a day and realized it wasn’t worth it. If you want Windows running on a laptop, you’d be better off buying a cheap Windows laptop. The Hard Way: Install Linux Chromebooks have a special Developer Mode which is like or jailbreaking an iPhone. After you, you’ll need to. Once you have Linux on there, you have a few options for running Windows programs.

Run the Linux Equivalent of a Program When I first installed Crouton, I thought of running Firefox and Skype on my Chromebook. Then I realized that since I had Linux, those programs have Linux equivalents.

I didn’t need to emulate a Windows computer to use some software. Install Wine and Run Some Windows Programs Wine lets you run a limited set of Windows programs on any system based on Linux. It’s a common way of running Windows programs on your Mac, but it works fine in Crouton. Check the to see if the program you want to run is on the list before you go through all these steps. Contributors rank the programs as Platinum, Gold, Silver, Bronze, and Garbage. Platinum means the program runs with no problems while Bronze and Garbage means the program barely functions. Newer programs were in the garbage category.

Wine isn’t just for Linux: You can use it to run without installing the Windows operating system. Use VirtualBox and Install a Virtual Operating System After you have Linux running, VirtualBox lets you run another operating system in virtual mode. You can install Windows XP, Vista, or with some modifications in a virtual box. After you do that, you have all the features of that guest operating system. Lee Enfield Long Branch Serial Numbers more.

Peripherals like printers or scanners need some extra effort to get working, but it’s not impossible. Virtualbox has a ton of uses: You can to Virtualbox or The Problems with These Solutions I tried a few of these solutions and they weren’t practical. The installation process of Crouton failed for me the first couple times. I eventually got it running. Developer mode takes a longer time to boot my Chromebook. Then Crouton took up about 20% of my Chromebook’s storage (although you can to get around that). Running Skype and Firefox was handy.

Wine was practical for a few older apps, but nothing I needed to have. Virtualbox worked better, but the Chromebook’s performance, space, and battery life took a big hit with the virtualization. The Best Way: Remote Control Software If you have access to another Mac or PC, the best way to access Windows programs (or even Mac) is through remote control software.

If you’re using Teamviewer, TeamViewer Web Connector works with Chrome. I like Chrome Remote Desktop for controlling my Macs and PCs. I can use two-factor authentication to control access to my systems.

Need help with Chrome Remote Desktop? Check out our. The reason remote control software works the best of the three solutions is you don’t have to compromise on your Chromebook features. You avoid installing extra software on your Chromebook. Everything’s already installed on the Mac or PC that you’re remoting into.

All you’re transferring over the web is pictures of your screen, so the programs run faster. You don’t have to worry about synchronizing or backing up data on your Chromebook. Everything exists on the host PC. Obviously you need an internet connection for this solution to work. I do it all the time with my Chromebook tethered to my iPhone and this solution isn’t bandwidth intensive.

Have any alternate solutions? Trouble with the ones above? Drop us a comment below. Last updated on 8 Feb, 2018.