Chromebook Unlocking / Laptop De-branding

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Laptop refurb.JPG


Chromebooks

The Chromebooks (Dell Chromebook 11s) are still locked by FUSD. Until they unlock them for us, we have been getting around the problem by reflashing their BIOS chips.

We have USB programmers and adapters necessary to do this. The process is outlined here: https://wiki.mrchromebox.tech/Unbricking

An ongoing project is to make a jig with the laser cutter and pogo pins, so that we can reach the BIOS chip from the front side of the motherboard.


Tested Linux Distributions

These chromebooks only have only 16GB SSD. We also are expecting to give these out to the public so we are trying to find light-weight but also user friendly linux distributions to recommend. A good option is to extend space with a usb drive, but we have been testing just with internal SSD.

Mx audio.JPG
AntiX audio.JPG

So far we have tested

  • MX Linux 23 - everything works out of box but distribution is ~8GB
  • Lubuntu (unknown version...was old) - everything works out of box.
  • antiX 22 and 23 beta - lightweight :) but have not been able to figure out audio out to speakers...yet
  • Puppy - also no audio
  • Debian 11 live with XFCE - no audio

Dell Latitudes E6420

The Latitudes are ready to be flashed with OS of choice.

We are planning an event to try and refresh them/ get some creatives in the greater of omni commons generally in Sudo Room to de-brand these laptops with stickers/vinyl skins. We have some laser-safe vinyl that we can cut with our laser cutter. Most need a good cleaning, and some of their palm wrests are wearing down. We can create a laser template to make a skin over the palm wrest. Cleaning with soap or isopropyl seems to make the problem worse.

Also see

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