Chromebook
This guide details the generic part of installing Gentoo on a Chromebook
Developer mode
All Chromebooks have a so-called Developer Mode allowing to boot on something else than ChromeOS.
This mode allows to use the so-called Legacy Boot, which is a regular BIOS boot (booting from a MBR), this is NOT a UEFI boot.
The Legacy Boot only works on x86, not arm.
Entering developer mode
The procedure is detailed here, find the appropriate model in the table and click on the link in the Model column.
Entering or leaving Developer Mode will completely erase the Chromebook's disk drive! Proceed with this caution in mind!
Flashing the firmware
The stock firmware should allow the Legacy Boot, but is sometimes bugged, requiring flashing.
There are various levels of flashing available, the most basic just allows the Legacy Boot, while the most complex turns the Chromebook into a regular PC, completely wiping any trace of ChromeOS.
The whole procedure and its various options are all detailed on MrChromeBox's site
Depending on how much you want to modify the firmware, you might have to open your Chromebook to remove a special screw which prevents the firmware from being modified
Installing Gentoo
Once you have the Legacy Boot working (or the UEFI boot if you flashed a full firmware), installing Gentoo is rather straight-forward: boot on a liveUSB and follow the Handbook as if installing on a regular x86_64 or arm machine.
Instructions for specific models
Keyboard
Xorg
Layout
The layout is supported by Xorg:
/etc/X11/xorg.conf.d/10-keyboard.conf
Section "InputClass"
Identifier "Keyboard"
MatchProduct "AT Translated Set 2 keyboard"
MatchIsKeyboard "on"
Option "XkbModel" "chromebook"
EndSection
The MatchProduct
section might not fit your hardware, to check the correct name, use:
user $
grep "Using input driver" /var/log/Xorg.0.log
(...) [617682.560] (II) Using input driver 'libinput' for 'AT Translated Set 2 keyboard' (...)
Missing keys
Since some keys are missing, they are emulated with Right Alt:
- Right Alt+Backspace = Delete
- Right Alt+Left = Home
- Right Alt+Right = End
- Right Alt+Up = PgUp
- Right Alt+Down = PgDn
- Right Alt+Search = Caps Lock
- Right Alt+F1 to F10 = F1 to F10
Extra keys
Search is treated as a super key (Super_L)
Multimedia keys
The multimedia keys should works as expected, except:
- fullscreen (in the F4 spot) will be treated as F11
- next tab/window (in the F5 spot) will be treated as F5
When used with Ctrl or Alt or Shift, these keys will behave as F1 to F10.
Example: Alt+Reload = Alt+F3
Troubleshooting
How to reboot
Since there is no Delete key, it is impossible to use Ctrl+Alt+Delete. There is also no Sys key, making it impossible to use the Magic Keys.
Fortunately the firmware has a few keyboard shortcuts available:
- Power for several seconds = power off
- Reload+Power = instant reboot
Stuck at the warning screen
Try using Esc+Reload+Power to force a firmware reset
Entering or leaving Developer Mode will completely erase the Chromebook's disk drive! Proceed with this caution in mind!
If that is not enough, follow the official procedure
Unexpected reboot when coming out of suspend to RAM
This can be caused by a missing TPM (Trusted Platform Module) driver in the kernel, see in Drivers → Character Devices