Windows 8 runs on Google Chromebook

After showing it can play nice with Apple's MacBook Air, Microsoft's upcoming flagship operating system Windows 8 is also showing it can work with Google's first Chrome laptop - but with the right hacks. Tech site PC World said one has to hack the CR-48's basic input-output system (BIOS) and disable its protection so the laptop will be allowed to run operating systems (OSs) other than Google's ChromeOS. "Unfortunately, (hacking the BIOS, the first step) is the most difficult part - one that might keep you from running this hack yourself. It involves opening your CR48 (taking out 12 screws), and putting a piece of electrical tape over a BIOS contact point, disabling the protection," PC World's Jason Kennedy said. The CR-48 is Google's prototype laptop running the Chrome OS. Kennedy said instructions for disabling the protection on the CR-48's BIOS are available online. "All the above step really does is allow you to get into the BIOS settings of the CR48, as well as remove the setting that blocks changes to the bootloader. So now you can hit F11 (or its equivalent) and go into the BIOS and do all of the normal things you can do (change the boot order, etc...)," Kennedy said. The next step involves flashing a new BIOS, after which one can install any OS via flash drive or an optical drive. Once this is finished, Windows 8 can be booted off the USB drive, and be installed normally. "one thing I wanted to note was that Windows 8 boots incredibly quickly; on the CR48’s SSD drive I was at the Metro desktop in about 12 seconds from a cold boot--and that includes me typing in a password. It's pretty crazy, and I’ll go on record as saying it’s a welcome improvement over previous versions of Windows," Kennedy said. Last month, PC Mag reported that Windows 8 played nicely with Apple's MacBook Air, managing to recognize and run most of the MacBook Air’s hardware. PC Mag said Windows 8 “worked perfectly" with the essential components such as Wi-Fi, the keyboard, trackpad, and USB ports. It said a cold boot of Windows 8 took 45 seconds while resume times were “instant" largely due to the Air’s flash storage drive. But PC Mag said there was no way to test Windows 8’s touch features since the MacBook Air lacks a touchscreen. With Wi-Fi working, one can do Web surfing with Internet Explorer 10, tweeting with Tweet@Rama. — TJD, GMA News