I found an older Chromebook and wanted to install ZorinOS on it, but its hardware ID starts with "SNOW." I can't find this model in the usual Chromebook Linux documentation, so I'm unsure whether Linux is supported at all. Is there a safe way to identify the hardware and install a compatible distribution, or should I avoid trying to force it?
3 Answers
Before changing anything, confirm the exact model and read the device-specific installation instructions. This Chromebook may not support replacing its firmware with a standard PC BIOS, so installing Linux could require a different boot method rather than the usual firmware replacement.
“SNOW” is associated with an older Samsung Chromebook that uses an ARM processor. Linux is possible, but ZorinOS generally targets x86-64 and isn’t an option for this hardware. You could look into ARM distributions such as Arch Linux ARM or postmarketOS instead.
That explains why I couldn’t find it in the usual documentation. The ARM-specific information is really helpful—thanks!
You may be able to get an ARM Linux system running, but keep expectations realistic. A roughly 2012 Chromebook with 2 GB of RAM and a weak processor will struggle with modern websites and multimedia. A lightweight desktop or window manager, plus zRAM, would be much more practical. It’s a worthwhile weekend project, but probably not a good replacement for a daily-use laptop.
I haven’t installed any firmware yet. I’ll identify the exact model and go through the instructions carefully first.