This is my first post, and I do not think I can use the search feature until I post. I am sorry to post before doing a search

I have a new Chromebook that I specifically bought to learn some Linux and was told by Best buy that the laptop I bought was enough.

I think I have successfully installed things in multiple ways multiple times through both Crostini and Crouton, but the apps almost all have scrambled graphics. Is there anythything about this machine that is not compliant with linux

Google Chrome OS

14" display
Typical 1366 x 768 HD resolution. Energy-efficient WLED backlight.

AMD A4-9120C accelerated processor
Dual-core processing. AMD A4 APU handles the AMD Radeon graphics alongside the central processor to balance the load, enabling smooth, fast Internet browsing and fast, responsive performance.

4GB system memory

32GB eMMC flash memory

AMD Radeon R4
Integrated graphics chipset with shared video memory

Welcome to LQ.

If this is your main objective, you will not learn much about linux using a chrome book.

Google chrome is more or less locked down for the average user. Much of the appeal is no updates, using a Google account to store EVERYTHING, all your personal data, and the list goes on. Fine if that is what you want.

I don't trust Google any more than any other cloud service. Your choice here.

Couldn't disagree more. What you bought is a small nvme drive, 32 gig. The smallest drive I would recommend would be 256 Gig, they are cheap enough today. You probably could use an external SSD drive, not sure how that would work with Chrome.

You are limited to what ever apps Google provides, mostly online stuff.

A full linux system is capable of much more, servers, file sharing and the list goes on. You can grow your knowledge with linux, not with chorme. Chrome will train you, just like window.

Your choice.

2 members found this post helpful.

@Camorri Crouton is a way to dual-boot Linux and ChromeOS. There's quite a lot of stuff online about installing it.

I agree that 32 G is a small drive, but if you just want to learn Linux, you don't need to put a lot of multimedia data onto the drive. I would say treat it as a toy and graduate to a better machine later.

The display problems might be caused by the system using the wrong video driver. If you look in /var/log, you should find a file called Xorg.0.log. Page through it and find out what driver is currently being used. I'm sure there are people here who use the same video card and can give you guidance on making it work better.

2 members found this post helpful.

Thank you both! I did some more research and tinkering last night.

I have done nothing but computers for days and am burnt out now. I need to take a break and figure out what my primary goals are and how to proceed.

This did not turn out the way I expected. I learned a lot and knowledge is precious. But I spent a lot of time and money and did not reach my primary goals.

Huntar,
Another option would be a true dual boot on the Chromebook. chrx.org has a script that you run in a Chrome terminal and it flashes a new BIOS and takes over one of the Chrombook partitions and uses it to boot into a native Linux environment. I also have 32Gb system and used 21Gb for Linux, leaving ChromeOS with about 1.5Gb of storage since I don't use it much. With a 128Gb SD card installed I moved /home to it so have plenty of storage.

Select the GalliumOS to install, which is a custom Ubuntu with Chromebook hardware tweaks.
I used it on my Chromebook, and when it boots cntr-d will boot Chrome, ctrl-l boots linux.

1 members found this post helpful.

Ha, ha! We've all been there! It's addictive, isn't it. But these things do take time and, believe me, you haven't been wasting it.

2 members found this post helpful.

All Chromebooks will also be Linux laptops going forward:
https://www.zdnet.com/article/all-ch...going-forward/

3 members found this post helpful.

I have a Toshiba chromebook, 2GB ram, 16GB eMMC, this is enough to load a Linux distro & use it for normal daily activities, mainly internet focused.

You were advised wrongly, my advice would be to use your chromebook as it is, & buy a pre used laptop to put Linux on & learn about it on that.

The laptop doesn't need to be very new either, I'm using a 2008 laptop as I type this, 2GB ram, 1.3GHz Celeron processor, & a 60GB SSD.

1 members found this post helpful.

Gallium does not support my laptop. I think it might fall under one of the headings that are listed as a WIP.

I have had some success with both Crouton and Crostini and learned some things while using them that apply to each other. I am understanding more and more the bigger picture, so that I am not just typing in code with no understanding and ability to tweak it.

My machine seems to run the Debian 9 in Crostini just fine, but most of the apps are scrambled. Ununtu desktop was scrambled when installed with Crouton. I think I am going to try and install Debian with Crouton. If Debian 9 works in Crostini, then it should work outside of Cristini, right?

The simple install sudo apt install aisleriot worked flawlessly in crostini. gnome packagekit and some of the things in it worked better than some other things, but not flawlessly.

If I just hold on and wait, will updates probably fix some more things?

This IS addictive. I walked away to do some things that had become critical to do NOW and I am right back at this instead of doing things that are almost critical.

What things are wrong with my machine that I should avoid in a future machine purchase?

Part of the scrambled desktop might be due to the desktop. Try installing a XFCE desktop and see if that works better. Others may be trying to do some rendering that may not work well with ChromeOS.
I had KDE Plasma desktop running in crouton, but not everything worked running it like that so I did the dual-boot. I think it had no sound out put, but its been a few years.

1 members found this post helpful.

I am thinking that I just need to get the right combination and that there is something that can run on this machine.

The machine was designed to run Debian 9 in Crostini. I feel like whatever I do, I need to start with that information.

For learning Linux, that is not the best laptop, it is a very restrictive version, purposefully made that way for people who only really want to get online.

These machines will run Linux, but certainly more bother than a pre used laptop, which will let you learn, & let you re install easily when you break the system, which you inevitably will, whilst learning about what you can do with a full Linux installation.

1 members found this post helpful.

Project Crostini will be bringing Linux VMs to Chrome OS using Linux's built-in Kernel-based Virtual Machine (KVM). It appears these VMs will run within containers. This should ensure that Chrome OS, which is known for its security, will continue to be secure. These Linux distributions will be run in sandboxes at two removes from Chrome OS's base operating system.

The first Linux to be supported is 2017's Debian Stretch version of Linux.

We expect alpha support will arrive in Chrome OS version 68 for the top-of-the-line Chromebook: Google's PixelBook. This version is due out on May 24. If all goes well, Linux will be rolled out for everyone, with sufficiently powerful hardware, on July 24.

1 members found this post helpful.

Okay, I installed a full install on another computer. Wow, this is different. LOL.