Dell Chromebook: How to Recover and Reset the ChromeOS

Table of Contents:

1. The Chrome Operating System
2. Resetting your Dell Chromebook
3. Recovering your Dell Chromebook
4. Troubleshooting Steps

The Chrome Operating System

The Google Chrome operating system powers Dell's Chromebooks. It is based on Google's popular Chrome Browser. It has been developed to provide a fast, simple, and more secure computing experience for users who spend most of their time online.

The key benefits are:

Fast:

A custom BIOS boots in five seconds and resumes in less than one second

Simple:

It updates automatically in the background, and the user data stays in the cloud

Secure:

A file system and firmware that is verified against modifications at boot and during run time and the Trusted Platform Module (TPM) provides added protection

Resetting your Dell Chromebook

All local data that is stored on your Dell Chromebook can be cleared by resetting it to its original factory settings. This is also known as a PowerWash. This is of most use when you are having user profile difficulties on your device. Most troubleshooting guides recommend trying a reset before you attempt to recover your Chromebook.

1. Sign out of your Chromebook:

   • Method One:

     1. Press and hold down the CTRL + ALT + SHIFT + R keys.

     2. Select Restart.

     3. Select Powerwash > Continue from the box that appears.

   • Method Two:

     1. Click the status area in the bottom right-hand side corner - where your account image appears.

        

        (Figure.1 Chrome Status Area)

     2. Select Settings and click Show Advanced settings at the bottom of the page.

        

        (Figure.2 Chrome Status Area Opened)

        

        (Figure.3 Chrome Settings page)

     3. Find the PowerWash section and click Restart.

        

        (Figure.4 Powerwash button on the Settings Page)

2. In the window that opens, select Restart.

This takes you back to how it cam fresh from the factory. You must go through the setup for the device again.

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Recovering your Dell Chromebook

This means installing a new version of the ChromeOS on your Dell Chromebook by going through the recovery process. You would want to do this after a major part replacement. (Motherboard or Storage Drive.) Alternatively, if you are having problems updating your Chromebook or if it stops working.

Do you see a ChromeOS is missing or damaged message? If you do, try a hard reset of your Chromebook first. Hold Down Refresh + Power together. If the message continues, carry on with this guide.

Do you see a ChromeOS verification is turned off message instead? Pressing Ctrl + D together enables you to enter developer mode. However, if you press the Space Bar instead - the screen asks you to recover your device.

Enter Recover Mode

1. Disconnect any peripheral devices from the faulty Chromebook.

2. Press down and hold the ESC + Refresh keys and press the power button.

3. Release the power button.

Recover using the Internet

1. Select Recover using Internet connection.

2. The on-screen instructions take you through the recovery process.

3. The Chromebook restarts to complete the recovery process.

Switch to the following method if the device does not have the Internet recovery option or you do not have access to an Internet connection.

Recover using external removable media

Create a Recovery USB flash drive

Create a recovery drive in ChromeOS

1. On a working Chromebook, go to the Chrome Web Store and install the Chromebook Recovery Utility extension.

2. Open the recovery extension:

   1. Click Extensions at the upper right corner of the browser.

   2. Click the Chromebook Recovery Utility extension. If the extension window does not automatically appear on your screen, ensure it is turned on.

3. Click Get started.

4. Click Select a model from a list. (Alternatively, type in the model number of the Chromebook you want to recover. The bottom of the error message on the faulty Chromebook screen gives you the number.)

5. Click Continue.

6. Connect your USB flash drive to the laptop or desktop.

7. In the dropdown menu, select the USB flash drive that you connected.

8. Click Continue.

9. Click Create now.

10. Remove the USB flash drive from the laptop or desktop, When you get a message on-screen saying that your recovery media is ready.

Create a recovery drive in Windows

1. Install the Chrome Browser: (If it is not already installed on your laptop or desktop)

   • The Chrome Browser

2. Go to the Chrome Web Store and install the Chromebook Recovery Utility browser extension.

3. Open the recovery extension:

   1. Click Extensions at the upper right corner of the browser.

   2. Click the Chromebook Recovery Utility extension. If the extension window does not automatically appear on your screen, ensure it is turned on.

4. Click Get started.

5. Click Select a model from a list. (Alternatively, type in the model number of the Chromebook you want to recover. The bottom of the error message on the faulty Chromebook screen gives you the number.)

6. Click Continue.

7. Connect your USB flash drive to the laptop or desktop.

8. In the dropdown menu, select the USB flash drive that you connected.

9. Click Continue.

10. Click Create now.

11. Remove the USB flash drive from the laptop or desktop, when you get a message on-screen saying that your recovery media is ready.

Create a recovery drive in Linux

1. Use the following link to download the recovery tool:

   • https://dl.google.com/dl/edgedl/chromeos/recovery/linux_recovery.sh

2. Modify the script permissions to allow the file to run with the following terminal command:

   $ sudo chmod 755 linux_recovery.sh

3. Run the script with root privileges using the following terminal command:

   $ sudo bash linux-recovery.sh

4. Follow the prompts from the tool to complete building the recovery image.

Create a recovery drive in MacOS

1. Install the Chrome Browser: (If it is not already installed on your Mac)

   • The Chrome Browser

2. Go to the Chrome Web Store and install the Chromebook Recovery Utility browser extension.

3. Open the recovery extension:

   1. Click Extensions at the upper right corner of the browser.

   2. Click the Chromebook Recovery Utility extension. If the extension window does not automatically appear on your screen, ensure it is turned on.

4. Click Get started.

5. Click Select a model from a list. (Alternatively, type in the model number of the Chromebook you want to recover. The bottom of the error message on the faulty Chromebook screen gives you the number.)

6. Click Continue.

7. Connect your USB flash drive to the Mac.

8. In the dropdown menu, select the USB flash drive that you connected.

9. Click Continue.

10. Click Create now.

11. Remove the USB flash drive from the Mac, when you get a message on-screen saying that your recovery media is ready.

Reinstall the Chrome Operating System

1. Ensure that the faulty Chromebook is in Recovery Mode.

2. Insert the USB flash drive when the device displays either the ChromeOS is missing or damaged or insert the recovery USB stick on-screen message.

3. Wait for the faulty Dell Chromebook to boot from the flash drive.

4. Follow the on-screen instructions that appear.

5. On successful installation of the ChromeOS, you are prompted to remove the USB flash drive.

6. Your Chromebook automatically restarts and boots.

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Troubleshooting Steps

If you run into trouble while carrying out any of the steps above, the following table has some helpful tips on resolving them. If you are still having issues after this, contact us to take this further.

Note: For more information about how to recover your Chromebook, go to Recover your Chromebook. .

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