Installing/Winky

Notes:

This is a guide to installing GalliumOS on the Baytrail version of the Samsung Chromebook 2, codename "Winky".  Model# XE500C12-K01US.

This was originally published here: https://sites.google.com/site/winkychromebook/

Note: This procedure does not let you dual-boot ChromeOS and GalliumOS.  At the time this was originally written, it was not possible.  It technically is possible now, with a different BIOS and using chrx.  I don't recommend it, because Winky has only 16GB of space, and you wont have much space left with both installed.

Please read all steps before starting.

Enter developer mode.

Be sure to redeem any offers google gives you (like free movies, or 100GB of Google Drive space, etc.) before starting this process.

Back up all your files in your Download folder.

Make sure everything is backed up!!!

Turn off the Chromebook.

Hold [ESC] and the "Refresh" key at the same time, then turn on the computer.

Press [CTRL] + [D] at the same time.

This will wipe the computer and install the developer version of ChromeOS.

Play the waiting game.

Log in.

Open the bottom and remove the Write Protect screw.

There are 2 known locations for the WP screw on WINKY.

Location 1: (Underside of Motherboard)

Turn off the Chromebook.

Remove all the screws on the bottom of the Chromebook. (All the screws are visible - no hidden screws)

The best place to start prying open is the SD Card slot.  Remove any installed card first though.

Once the bottom is removed, you should see:

Step 1: Screws to remove in red, cables to undo in green.  Keep track of which screws go where.

Step 2: The display cable has a little yellow lever thing.  Just pry it up and use it to pull backward to release it from the motherboard.

Step 3: This little metal support bracket has a tab on it that requires you to slide it backward to release fully after taking the 3 screws out.

Step 4: Here is the write protect screw to remove.  It is the conspicuous one with the grey wire mesh under it.

Step 5: Here is the screw and mesh removed.

Assemble everything back together.

With the motherboard all connected and screwed in, but the cover removed, turn on the computer.

Log in, press [Ctrl]+[Alt]+[T] to open a terminal.

Type in "shell" and press [Enter]

Type in "sudo flashrom --wp-disable"

It should give the following result on the last line: "SUCCESS"

If it was successful, you can put the cover back on the Chromebook.

Location 2: (Topside of Motherboard)

Some models of WINKY have a different location for the WP screw, which is much easier to access.

Alternate Location of the WP screw.

Unlike Location 1, you do not need to remove the motherboard or any connectors.

Note: If yours is different from these two locations, look for a screw with mesh between the head and the motherboard. Let us know as well.

Keep the back cover off, and turn on the Chromebook.

Log in, press [Ctrl]+[Alt]+[T] to open a terminal.

Type in "shell" and press [Enter]

Type in "sudo flashrom --wp-disable"

It should give the following result on the last line: "SUCCESS"

If it was successful, you can put the cover back on the Chromebook.

Prepare USB Drive.

Go to https://galliumos.org/download.  You want the Bay Trail version. At the time this was written, it is: galliumos-baytrail-1.0.iso

Follow the directions here: Installing/Creating_Bootable_USB to "burn" the ISO to a USB drive.

Flash the coreboot/UEFI Firmware

WARNING: Once the UEFI firmware is flashed, you cannot boot into ChromeOS anymore.  You will need a (UEFI) bootable USB drive to install a new operating system.

We will install the Modified BIOS by MrChromebox.

Turn on the Chromebook and log in, if needed.

Make sure all files are backed up, just in case.

Press [Ctrl]+[Alt]+[t] to open a terminal.

Type in shell and press [Enter].

Copy/Paste the command(s) from MrChromebox's site https://mrchromebox.tech/#fwscript to download/run the Firmware Utility Script.

Select the menu option to install the UEFI Firmware.

If successful, select the menu option to power off the Chromebook. Insert GalliumOS install media, power on, boot media, and install the OS.

Install GalliumOS

Plug in a USB mouse, if needed - the touchpad may not work in the LiveCD enviroment.

Insert your USB drive you "burned" earlier.

It is helpful to plug the AC power adapter in, but not required unless the battery is low.

Turn ON the Chromebook

The LiveCD/installer should boot.

Follow the prompts to install GalliumOS.

Press the Ignore button if you see this message: "Error fsyncing/closing /dev/mmcblk0rpmb: Input/Output error"

Install to "/dev/mmcblk0" when choosing the install location.

Reboot when sucessful.  Remove the USB drive when asked.

Update GalliumOS Packages

In terminal update the packages by executing the following commands:

sudo apt-get update

sudo apt-get dist-upgrade