[rustyfrog666]

I have an old Chromebox with OpenELEC v5.0.8 and Kodi 14.2.

I want to use SABNZBD daemon on it but don't think I can do that with OpenELEC (let me know if that's not the case).  So instead I want to install Lubuntu. 

Can I just follow the steps as though it was a new installation?

For a standalone setup, you will need to perform the following steps:

• Open the ChromeBox and remove the write-protect screw
  
• Put the ChromeBox in developer mode
  
• Download/run the Kodi E-Z Setup Script
  
• Select the Standalone / coreboot Install option, which will backup your stock firmware/BIOS and flash a custom one
  
• Create install media for desired OS. Script includes option to create install media for LibreELEC
  
• Power off ChromeBox
  
• Connect/plug-in USB install media (if not using LibreELEC media you just created)
  
• Power on ChromeBox, Press [ESC] from boot menu, select USB device (no longer needed with UEFI firmware; USB devices will boot automatically)
  
• Install LibreELEC, GalliumOS, or your OS of choice
  

regardless of whether or not you can run Sabnzbd under OpenELEC, you'd be smart to start fresh given the age of your install:

* boot a Ubuntu USB
* update to latest UEFI Firmware
* reboot and boot/install OS

There are certainly ways to install Sabnzbd under LibreELEC (what I'd recommend) and if you're using the device for Kodi then that's what I'd recommend. Using Ubuntu + Kodi is always going to be slightly less optimal as a Kodi playback device

Hi, I have an old Chromebox with OpenELEC v5.0.8 and Kodi 14.2. You suggested I just need to:
 
* boot a Ubuntu USB
* update to latest UEFI Firmware
* reboot and boot/install OS (I’m going with LibreELEC as you suggested)
 
I successfully booted Ubuntu 20.4 from a USB.  However when I tried to update to the latest UEFI Firmware, the report said there was nothing to update (surprising given how old it is).  So can I ignore the UEFI update?
 
Also should I be installing the Linux 32-bit version of LibreElec?
 
Many thanks

[Matt Devo]

Hi, I have an old Chromebox with OpenELEC v5.0.8 and Kodi 14.2. You suggested I just need to:
 
* boot a Ubuntu USB
* update to latest UEFI Firmware
* reboot and boot/install OS (I’m going with LibreELEC as you suggested)
 
I successfully booted Ubuntu 20.4 from a USB.  However when I tried to update to the latest UEFI Firmware, the report said there was nothing to update (surprising given how old it is).  So can I ignore the UEFI update?
 
Also should I be installing the Linux 32-bit version of LibreElec?
 
Many thanks

what "report" are you referring to? you should be running my firmware utility script from https://mrchromebox.tech/#fwscript and selecting the option to install/update the UEFI Full ROM firmware.

the UEFI firmware is 64-bit only; you want the 64-bit version of LE.

[rustyfrog666]

Hi, I have an old Chromebox with OpenELEC v5.0.8 and Kodi 14.2. You suggested I just need to:
 
* boot a Ubuntu USB
* update to latest UEFI Firmware
* reboot and boot/install OS (I’m going with LibreELEC as you suggested)
 
I successfully booted Ubuntu 20.4 from a USB.  However when I tried to update to the latest UEFI Firmware, the report said there was nothing to update (surprising given how old it is).  So can I ignore the UEFI update?
 
Also should I be installing the Linux 32-bit version of LibreElec?
 
Many thanks

what "report" are you referring to? you should be running my firmware utility script from https://mrchromebox.tech/#fwscript and selecting the option to install/update the UEFI Full ROM firmware.

the UEFI firmware is 64-bit only; you want the 64-bit version of LE.

We are up and running!  Many thanks for your help.

[sow07]

Hi there, long time user of the E-Z setup script here.  I recently went to run this on a newly acquired Asus Chromebox CN60 and hit a roadblock.  Further investigation points to a couple flashrom dependencies in https://www.mrchromebox.tech/files/util/flashrom.tar.gz

I am able to execute the built-in flashrom, but the downloaded one (with logging capability) errors our immediately.  The two dependencies are:

LIB_PCI_3.5 (and 3.3)
GLIBC_2.27

It's looking for these in /usr/lib64/libpci.so.3 and /lib64/libc.so.6.  I have versions libpci.so.3.1.10 and libc-2.19.so mapped to these libraries so it makes sense the script failed.

I was under the impression the downloaded flashrom would not have any external dependencies, but maybe something changed? 

I checked into downloading updates to these packages but the basic chromebox linux doesn't have a package manager so I'm not sure how to solve that.

I did reset the chromebox by going in and out of developer mode and no changes.  It's a fresh box as far as I can tell.

Screen picture of actual error:



Would it be possible to get a version of flashrom without dependencies?  I modified the script to just use the internal flashrom which allowed me to get to the main menu, but failed later when trying to setup the standalone bios (traced to a spot where it attempted to check logs which we know aren't there).  I was tempted to have it skip checking any logs which I assume would work but lose protections against any encountered errors.  I didn't want to take that chance yet though.

[Matt Devo]

Hi there, long time user of the E-Z setup script here.  I recently went to run this on a newly acquired Asus Chromebox CN60 and hit a roadblock.  Further investigation points to a couple flashrom dependencies in https://www.mrchromebox.tech/files/util/flashrom.tar.gz

I am able to execute the built-in flashrom, but the downloaded one (with logging capability) errors our immediately.  The two dependencies are:

LIB_PCI_3.5 (and 3.3)
GLIBC_2.27

It's looking for these in /usr/lib64/libpci.so.3 and /lib64/libc.so.6.  I have versions libpci.so.3.1.10 and libc-2.19.so mapped to these libraries so it makes sense the script failed.

I was under the impression the downloaded flashrom would not have any external dependencies, but maybe something changed? 

I checked into downloading updates to these packages but the basic chromebox linux doesn't have a package manager so I'm not sure how to solve that.

I did reset the chromebox by going in and out of developer mode and no changes.  It's a fresh box as far as I can tell.

Screen picture of actual error:



Would it be possible to get a version of flashrom without dependencies?  I modified the script to just use the internal flashrom which allowed me to get to the main menu, but failed later when trying to setup the standalone bios (traced to a spot where it attempted to check logs which we know aren't there).  I was tempted to have it skip checking any logs which I assume would work but lose protections against any encountered errors.  I didn't want to take that chance yet though.

ok, I just pushed a change to try and work around that.  try clearing /tmp/boot/util and re-running the script

[sow07]

Hi there, long time user of the E-Z setup script here.  I recently went to run this on a newly acquired Asus Chromebox CN60 and hit a roadblock.  Further investigation points to a couple flashrom dependencies in https://www.mrchromebox.tech/files/util/flashrom.tar.gz

I am able to execute the built-in flashrom, but the downloaded one (with logging capability) errors our immediately.  The two dependencies are:

LIB_PCI_3.5 (and 3.3)
GLIBC_2.27

It's looking for these in /usr/lib64/libpci.so.3 and /lib64/libc.so.6.  I have versions libpci.so.3.1.10 and libc-2.19.so mapped to these libraries so it makes sense the script failed.

I was under the impression the downloaded flashrom would not have any external dependencies, but maybe something changed? 

I checked into downloading updates to these packages but the basic chromebox linux doesn't have a package manager so I'm not sure how to solve that.

I did reset the chromebox by going in and out of developer mode and no changes.  It's a fresh box as far as I can tell.

Screen picture of actual error:



Would it be possible to get a version of flashrom without dependencies?  I modified the script to just use the internal flashrom which allowed me to get to the main menu, but failed later when trying to setup the standalone bios (traced to a spot where it attempted to check logs which we know aren't there).  I was tempted to have it skip checking any logs which I assume would work but lose protections against any encountered errors.  I didn't want to take that chance yet though.

ok, I just pushed a change to try and work around that.  try clearing /tmp/boot/util and re-running the script

Wonderful, I tried it out and (after a few minor corrections) it worked like a charm!

Needed these edits:

function.sh line 261 "if if" changed to "if"
function.sh line 263 add line "mv flashrom_old.tar.gz flashrom.tar.gz"

CN60 users are back in business.  Thanks so much for the quick reply and fix!

[Matt Devo]

Wonderful, I tried it out and (after a few minor corrections) it worked like a charm!

Needed these edits:

function.sh line 261 "if if" changed to "if"
function.sh line 263 add line "mv flashrom_old.tar.gz flashrom.tar.gz"

CN60 users are back in business.  Thanks so much for the quick reply and fix!

 should be fixed now, sorry about that

[nelmanp]

Hi  all

been using kodi and chromebox for years now with the ezscript with no problems .went to reinstall kodi a few days ago now and went into the shell downloaded the ezscript it reports downloading libreelec but then I get the following errors:

This does not look like a tar archive
Exiting with failure due to previous errors
Failed to extract LibreElec download check your internet connection and try again

I am using an Asus Chromebox CN60
Intel Haswell
stock ChromeOS w/RW_LEGACY

Have also done a full recovery with the chrome recovery utility but still have the same errors

Any help would be greatly appreciated u/MrChromebox

[Matt Devo]

Hi  all

been using kodi and chromebox for years now with the ezscript with no problems .went to reinstall kodi a few days ago now and went into the shell downloaded the ezscript it reports downloading libreelec but then I get the following errors:

This does not look like a tar archive
Exiting with failure due to previous errors
Failed to extract LibreElec download check your internet connection and try again

I am using an Asus Chromebox CN60
Intel Haswell
stock ChromeOS w/RW_LEGACY

Have also done a full recovery with the chrome recovery utility but still have the same errors

Any help would be greatly appreciated u/MrChromebox

there's a few reasons for the download to fail - could be a bad connection, server hiccup, or lack of space on your device. Hard to tell from the info provided.

that said, I'm confused as to what you're trying to do exactly. If you have an existing LE install and want to upgrade, there's no need to do anything from ChromeOS or my script -- you just use LE's built-in update mechanism (unless there are issues with partition sizing).

Also, it's 2020, and the 2014 model CN60 no longer gets ChromeOS updates. I'd recommend switching to my UEFI firmware and either doing a fresh dedicated LE install, or running Linux + Kodi. Dual booting at this point is likely not your best option

[nonfac]

Hi.  Let me start by saying a BIG 'Thank You' to Mr Chromebox for not only making the script, but taking the time to maintain it and answer posts.  You're a good guy, seriously.  
I hate having to join the form just to make posts like this, as I don't want to be complainer.  Unfortunately, I'm having the same issue as @nelmanp

However, I'm using a Celeron Asus Chormebox 3.  FWIW, I had a CN60 myself, and sometime around May or June the install on USB stopped working for me as well (different error, however), so I upgraded to the "3".  But no joy.  

I am attempting to install on a USB stick.  I've tried at least 2 USB sticks over the course of 3 or 4 months, but the error (not look like a valid tar archive) persists each time.  
I assume we're not the only 2 getting this error.  
Has anyone found a workaround?

[Matt Devo]

Hi.  Let me start by saying a BIG 'Thank You' to Mr Chromebox for not only making the script, but taking the time to maintain it and answer posts.  You're a good guy, seriously.  
I hate having to join the form just to make posts like this, as I don't want to be complainer.  Unfortunately, I'm having the same issue as @nelmanp

However, I'm using a Celeron Asus Chormebox 3.  FWIW, I had a CN60 myself, and sometime around May or June the install on USB stopped working for me as well (different error, however), so I upgraded to the "3".  But no joy.  

I am attempting to install on a USB stick.  I've tried at least 2 USB sticks over the course of 3 or 4 months, but the error (not look like a valid tar archive) persists each time.  
I assume we're not the only 2 getting this error.  
Has anyone found a workaround?

I'm not quite clear exactly what the issue / error is. Which script option are you using?

[nonfac]

Hi.  Let me start by saying a BIG 'Thank You' to Mr Chromebox for not only making the script, but taking the time to maintain it and answer posts.  You're a good guy, seriously.  
I hate having to join the form just to make posts like this, as I don't want to be complainer.  Unfortunately, I'm having the same issue as @nelmanp
...
Has anyone found a workaround?

I'm not quite clear exactly what the issue / error is. Which script option are you using?

The issue/error is, that when I select script option number 3 (install LibreELEC on USB), the download completes, but during install, the error:
"Failed to extract LibreELEC download..."

[Matt Devo]

The issue/error is, that when I select script option number 3 (install LibreELEC on USB), the download completes, but during install, the error:
"Failed to extract LibreELEC download..."

 ok, I've bumped the LE version it downloads, hopefully that fixes the issue

[nonfac]

The issue/error is, that when I select script option number 3 (install LibreELEC on USB), the download completes, but during install, the error:
"Failed to extract LibreELEC download..."

 ok, I've bumped the LE version it downloads, hopefully that fixes the issue

Many thanks Matt, that fixed it!

[meganoob]

Hi, I mostly don't know what I'm doing.  I have an old Asus Chromebox CN60.  Everything was cool except recently I was no longer able to launch the plex player from chrome so I've started to look for alternatives.

I'm attempting to use the E-Z setup script and everything is mostly going okay until a point.

I first put the system into dev mode.  From here I was seeing if I could boot from a USB thumb drive to Ubuntu just to see if I could stream over plex that way.  As I'm sure many here are aware the Chromebox won't let me boot from USB.  Then I discovered MrChromebox.tech.  Great!

I updated the BIOS to the MRChromebox BIOS (RW_LEGACY).  I tried Ubuntu but it was pretty slow and buggy so I started looking for alternatives.

Then I noticed the Kodi E-Z setup script and I thought this sounded like just the ticket for a guy like me

So I ran script from the command line.  I created a 4GB partition, let the repair happen and then installed LibreELEC alongside my Chrome OS.  So far everything was going fine.  But now when I boot the system and press CTRL-L I hang at boot.  The screen just shows "booting from hard disk..."  and it hangs there forever.  Chrome still boots up fine and I can see that I'm short 4 GB of storage when I check from Chrome OS.

After this I tried to install GalliumsOS/Ubuntu using the E-Z script but there is an error/warning about needing to use something else so it never installed.

At this point I did a powerwash and tried installing LibreELEC again.  I didn't expect this to matter but I figured I'd try.  Still the same thing where I press CTRL-L at boot and it hangs.

What do I need to do here?  Hopefully I've provided enough information.  I'm sure somewhere in the 100s of pages of this thread the answer is there but I haven't found it yet!  Thanks for all the hard work that some folks out there have already done just to get me to this point.