Surviving in the crevice. How can Chromebook Pixel 2015 be reborn? FydeOS, Linux or Windows?

Many years ago, I bought a Chromebook Pixel 2015 for around 2,000. Later, due to the common problem of "screen leakage," the screen became unusable and has been idle ever since. I also found a suitable screen replacement, but it's quite niche in China.

It wasn't until recently that I needed a more portable computer. Currently, all the computers at home are large ATX motherboards, which are very cumbersome to carry around. Moreover, they are open-air cases, so carrying them around is a big burden, and I'm afraid they might break. Speaking of which, I want to complain about the quality of laptops. I've bought many laptops, and they all broke within a few years.

Let me introduce the Chromebook Pixel 2015 I have on hand.

CPU: Intel i7-5500U
Storage: 64GB
Memory: 16GB
Ports:
- 2 x USB-C
- 2 x USB-A 3.0
- SD card slot

new-chromebook-pixel-2267.0

Now let's begin the record of the rebirth of the Chromebook Pixel 2015.

Evolution to the "Headless Knight"#

Due to the screen leakage, the upper part of the keyboard became sticky, which greatly affected its usability. This is secondary. The biggest problem is accidental touches. When using an external screen, whether I open or close the lid, it randomly registers touches.

So I had to remove the screen. The disassembly process is relatively easy, but the experience is a disaster. I cursed Google while disassembling it. The design and materials of the keyboard and main body are very good, all made of thick aluminum alloy. Considering my limited experience in disassembling, I can say it's the most well-made laptop I've ever seen.

What's really disgusting is the screen part, which is covered in glue. I'm not sure if it's due to screen leakage or if a large amount of glue was used to attach the screen. Why do I need to remove the screen? Because the Wi-Fi and Bluetooth receivers (don't know the specific term) are located at the top of the screen and need to be removed. If I don't remove the screen, the entire disassembly process is very pleasant and easy, and I can easily separate the keyboard and screen.

To summarize briefly:

The screws on the back cover are hidden under the anti-slip pads and need to be removed.
The screen and keyboard can be easily separated.
The Wi-Fi and Bluetooth receivers are located at the top of the screen and need to be removed. Otherwise, it will result in weak Wi-Fi signal and Bluetooth not working.
The Wi-Fi and Bluetooth receivers can be accommodated inside the keyboard.

If you also want to turn your Chromebook Pixel 2015 into a "Headless Knight," just grab a screwdriver and follow the steps. It's very simple. Don't be afraid, just be careful.

Choice of Operating System#

Initially, I planned to use Linux, and the ideal choice was Ubuntu. However, due to incomplete drivers, I also installed FydeOS. The experience was not good, although it offers "fast Chrome" + "Android" + "Linux," which seems like a wonderful combination, but both Android and Linux are not very user-friendly. However, FydeOS has some highlights, especially the Rime-based Rhythm Input Method, which is particularly valuable considering that ChromeOS doesn't even have a decent Chinese input method. However, when using the Rhythm Input Method on FydeOS, it's almost unusable. It becomes unavailable shortly after booting.

Let me summarize the choices and issues with installing different systems on the Chromebook Pixel 2015.

Linux#

I've tried several distributions, and Ubuntu has the fewest bugs. It can be used for daily tasks if you don't pursue perfection.

Incomplete drivers: Very low audio output, even when using external speakers through the 3.5mm jack.
Bluetooth frequently disconnects and cannot connect.

If you can accept these issues, then Ubuntu is a great choice. I've smashed the keyboard on Google, but I still haven't found a suitable solution.

FydeOS#

FydeOS can be considered as a Google-free, domestic version of ChromeOS. FydeOS provides a version specifically for the Chromebook Pixel 2015 called FydeOS for You, which requires payment. The installation process and usage are free of charge. It offers a 30-day free trial, followed by ¥120/year.

There are quite a few bugs.
The Rhythm Input Method, which is very appealing to me, cannot be used (I believe it will be fixed in future versions).
The Linux subsystem is available, but you need to be prepared for various imperfections.
Android is not very useful. I need desktop-level applications, not mobile or tablet ones.

The main reason I turned it into a "Headless Knight" was to use an external monitor, so using ChromeOS seems less suitable at this point. If you have a "Headed" setup, you can consider or look forward to future versions.

Windows#

Before installing Windows, I had one question in mind: "Can Windows be installed on a 64GB SSD?" Through practice, I found that Windows can function normally with 64GB of storage.

I chose Windows 10 LTSC. Why did I choose Windows 10 LTSC? LTSC stands for Long-Term Servicing Channel, and the system is very streamlined. It doesn't even have Microsoft Store by default (you can install it yourself), and it doesn't have many unnecessary Microsoft applications. It's a clean system with limited storage space, which makes it the perfect choice.

I've been using it extensively for almost half a month, and there haven't been any major issues except for the limited storage space.

All drivers are available.
External audio has a minor drawback. After audio stops, there seems to be a disconnection in the 3.5mm jack, causing noise (crackling sound) when detected. Playing a silent audio script continuously can solve this issue.

Can't the 64GB SSD be expanded? Without modifying the motherboard, you can consider purchasing a high-capacity and high-speed USB flash drive to create a system. It can be connected via USB-C, and the theoretical speed can reach 5Gbps.

However, this raises the issue of USB-C port allocation. You need to solve the following simultaneously:

HDMI
Charging
USB flash drive system

I purchased several popular docking stations, but either they couldn't be used at all or they couldn't charge. It's impossible to have HDMI and charging occupy only one USB-C port. If you have a "Headed" setup, you don't need HDMI, and two ports are just enough.

System Installation#

FydeOS#

Installing FydeOS for You doesn't require flashing firmware. You can directly install it using the original firmware. You can refer to this video (ignore the firmware flashing step): 📺 Chromebook Pixel 2013 Flashes FydeOS for You

Linux and Windows#

Not limited to Linux and Windows, after flashing third-party firmware, you can freely install other systems. The following steps can be combined with the video 📺 Chromebook Pixel 2013 Flashes FydeOS for You for learning and understanding.

Preparation
- A screwdriver
- A USB flash drive
- A computer to create a bootable drive

Open the back cover and remove the write-protect screw. Please refer to the video: 📺 Chromebook Pixel 2015 Write Protect Screw
Backup all files from the current system. The following steps will erase all files.
Turn on the Chromebook and wait for it to complete.
Press "ESC" + "Refresh (F3)" + "Power" simultaneously to enter recovery mode.
When the screen shows a yellow exclamation mark, press "CTRL" + "D" and then press "Enter" to enable developer mode.
Wait quietly until the data erasure is complete and the Chromebook boots up.
After booting, complete the setup wizard and enter the system.
Open the Chrome browser and press "CTRL" + "ALT" + "T" to enter the command line.
Enter shell and press Enter.
Run the following command to install MrChromebox firmware. This process requires an internet connection and may require a proxy.
```
cd; curl -LO mrchromebox.tech/firmware-util.sh && sudo bash firmware-util.sh
```
After running the above command, a menu will appear. Enter the corresponding number and press Enter to select "Install/Update coreboot/UEFI Full ROM firmware." In most cases, it's option 2.
There will be risk and backup prompts. Enter y to confirm.
After completion, a file named stock-xxxxxxx.rom will be generated. This is the original firmware. Please backup it to a USB flash drive or cloud storage.
Restart the system. At this point, the installation of MrChromebox firmware is complete. Now, let's prepare to install Linux or Windows on the Chromebook Pixel 2015.
You can use another computer to create a bootable USB drive. I recommend using Ventoy, but I won't go into details about the process.
Insert the USB drive into the Chromebook Pixel 2015, restart, and continuously press ESC to select the USB drive as the boot option.
Follow the normal process to install the system.

Drivers and Optimization#

For Linux, there isn't much to do. Ubuntu, in particular, doesn't require many additional steps after installation, so let's focus on Windows.

Windows#

Driver Installation#

Download and install drivers from coolstar.org, which includes various drivers for Windows 10 and 11.

Installing Microsoft Store on LTSC#

Windows 10 LTSC doesn't have Microsoft Store by default. If needed, you can install it using a script.

Go to GitHub and download LTSC-Add-MicrosoftStore. Follow the installation instructions.

Storage Space Optimization#

After installing Windows 10 LTSC on a 64GB SSD, there is approximately 25GB of available storage space, which is quite limited.

The file hiberfil.sys occupies 16GB, which is the same size as the memory. This is a system hibernation file that allows the computer to return to its previous state when waking up from hibernation.

This file (functionality) can be deleted or disabled.

Open the CMD command prompt.
Enter: powercfg –h off to disable it.

By doing this, you will have 40GB of available space. 40GB is not much, so you should constantly monitor changes in storage space. You can use TreeSize to check storage space usage.

Audio Noise#

When using an external audio device via the 3.5mm jack, there is crackling noise when audio starts or stops. It seems that the device is completely disconnected when there is no audio playing (this is just my personal speculation). You can solve this issue by using a script to continuously play a silent audio.

As a heavy user of Quicker, you can consider using Quicker or other scripts to achieve this.

Software Choices and Others#

Graphics: Affinity Photo
Even with sufficient computer specifications, I would choose Affinity Photo over Photoshop because it meets my needs and Photoshop is more powerful.
Office: LibreOffice
First, I want to clarify that I don't have actual office needs. I only need to view and edit documents occasionally.

I won't install any domestic software on this computer. The only exception is "WeChat," which I installed on a virtual machine in the local network and accessed it through Remote App. The user experience is similar to having it installed locally.

When I need higher specifications, I use Rustdesk or RDP to connect to my desktop computer at home.

Even so, I don't recommend anyone to use a Chromebook Pixel 2015 with Windows 10 in a production or work environment.

All content in this article was completed using the Chromebook Pixel 2015.