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How to Create a Chrome OS Recovery Disc

No one with a computer should be without a way to get it back. Operating systems fail all the time (some more than others), so it's important to be prepared. Chrome OS is no exception. If you own a Chromebook (or have Chrome OS installed on your laptop), here's how to create a Chrome OS recovery disc.

Note :For this tutorial, you will need a USB drive with at least 4 GB of free space. You can also use an SD card if you don't have a flash drive.

In the past, you had to burn the image file to a CD/DVD in order to create a recovery disc. Recently, Google released a better tool that lets you create a recovery image not only on Chrome OS itself, but also on Windows (and soon Mac and Linux). This new tool is vastly superior in every way.

Make the disc

1. To get started, first download the recovery tool to your Chromebook.

2. Insert your USB drive or SD card (remember to back up its data, as it will be formatted) and open the Chromebook Recovery Utility app. Once opened, you will see a window exactly like the one below.

How to Create a Chrome OS Recovery Disc

4. Select your Chromebook model and press the “Continue” button to proceed to the next window.

How to Create a Chrome OS Recovery Disc

5. The second step page is to select the USB drive (or SD card) to write to. Select from the drop-down list and press the “Continue” button to begin. It's not a short process, so be patient. When the process is complete, you will have built-in security for your computer. Sometimes bad things happen, so it's always a good idea to be prepared.

Where to find help

So you've created a recovery image yourself, but aren't sure what to do with it? Google can help! They have a great Chromebook Product Forum filled with posts from people who may be having the same issues as you. It's a great place to ask questions and get answers.

Conclusion

Chrome OS is very user-friendly, even in the recovery service. Few operating systems make it easy to create a full recovery disc. Unlike the Windows repair disc, this restore disc is full installation media. It will repair your Chromebook and get it back to working order as quickly as possible.

It's quite obvious that user accessibility is part of the Chromebooks' draw. Everything is well thought out and easy for the consumer, as it should be. There is no doubt that more operating systems should follow Google's lead in this area.