NOTICE: Indexing is now available through any browser on familysearch.org/indexing

Running FamilySearch Indexing on a Chromebook is possible with Ubuntu. This guide shows how to put Ubuntu on a Chromebook, then how to start it from Ubuntu. This is not dual boot, neither is it a Virtual Machine. Ubuntu will be using the same Linux Kernel your ChromeOS is already using.

Warning

This has only been tested on my Acer C710. Do your research before putting your device in dev mode. If you brick your Chromebook from anything in this tutorial that's not my fault. I have had the recovery screen many times before and was able to restore with a USB drive, but you may not be so lucky.

1. Put your device in dev mode (what is dev mode?)

Note: This will wipe and reset your Chromebook
esc+refresh+power then ctrl+d at recovery screen

2. Install crouton (link to download)

Note: You do not have to click on what you downloaded, the following command will use it to install Ubuntu Open crosh shell (ctrl+alt+t shell)

Install Ubuntu with crouton:

sudo sh ~/Downloads/crouton -t xiwi,xfce

3. In ChromeOS get the Crouton intgration extension

Start Ubuntu (do this from now on whenever you want to start Ubuntu): sudo startxfce4 -X xiwi

4. Install Indexing in Ubuntu

Open a terminal in Ubuntu with ctrl+alt+t

cd ~/Downloads
wget https://indexing.familysearch.org/downloads/Indexing_unix.sh
sudo apt-get install openjdk-6-jre
bash Indexing_unix.sh

Close all of the Iced Tea Errors
Now there should be a FamilySearch Indexing Icon on the Ubuntu Desktop. Enjoy!