[furii]

definitely sounds like an edid issue. plenty of hits regarding onkyo and edid overrides but you may want to start here: http://openelec.tv/forum/68-audio/65894-...id-editing

[Mark the Red]

Hello All,

Need a quick guidance and advice:

Was just about to pull the trigger on the Asus Chromebox and do the install. This thread is fantastic and Matt you are a great man.

I do have a quick question that I hope would help me. My main goal is to have a Chromebox boot into XBMC but also be able to load Steam as a secondary function. I am total noob to Linux but Matt's guide seems straightforward enough. I am a little confused as to the best way to configure this:

Do I
(a) Install the ChromeOS + OpenElec script option from this thread and then somehow (?) install Linux based Steam from inside Openelec?

or

(b) Install the ChromeOS + Ubuntu script option from this thread and then install both XBMC (linux) and Steam (linux) from within Ubuntu and have the computer boot to XBMC for the wife's piece of mind.

For simplicity sake I would prefer option (a) but from my reading of this I am not sure I can install Steam from within Openelec XBMC.

I tried my best to google my own answers, but most of the solutions I found require heavy linux scripting to do what I want.

Your advice or google links would be most welcome to help me in this matter.

PS: End result of both the fast booting XBMC of this link:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i-M1x8lUyUA

and the quick switch to Steam shown in this link would be divine:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wi9XKT_j...e=youtu.be

[Matt Devo]

Hello All,

Need a quick guidance and advice:

Was just about to pull the trigger on the Asus Chromebox and do the install. This thread is fantastic and Matt you are a great man.

I do have a quick question that I hope would help me. My main goal is to have a Chromebox boot into XBMC but also be able to load Steam as a secondary function. I am total noob to Linux but Matt's guide seems straightforward enough. I am a little confused as to the best way to configure this:

Do I
(a) Install the ChromeOS + OpenElec script option from this thread and then somehow (?) install Linux based Steam from inside Openelec?

or

(b) Install the ChromeOS + Ubuntu script option from this thread and then install both XBMC (linux) and Steam (linux) from within Ubuntu and have the computer boot to XBMC for the wife's piece of mind.

For simplicity sake I would prefer option (a) but from my reading of this I am not sure I can install Steam from within Openelec XBMC.

I tried my best to google my own answers, but most of the solutions I found require heavy linux scripting to do what I want.

Your advice or google links would be most welcome to help me in this matter.

PS: End result of both the fast booting XBMC of this link:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i-M1x8lUyUA

and the quick switch to Steam shown in this link would be divine:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wi9XKT_j...e=youtu.be

sounds like you want a standalone setup with Fedora + XBMC + Steam like the poster here: http://forum.xbmc.org/showthread.php?tid...pid1738772 (read next few posts as well)

Maybe he can write up a guide and I can add it to the wiki

[technophile10.1]

Hi Matt

I plan to customize my Asus Chromebox M075U for running XBMC and have gone through this entire thread and I feel that the safest option is the standalone OE/XBMC option. However there are still a lot of things that still need clarity for a noob like me:

1. After putting the Chromebox in developer mode, and disabling the firmware write protect and getting to command prompt for the first time, how will I login to anything? I believe the command prompt is just a blinking dash to write commands on?
2. After logging in with chronos and no password, you say "Download and run the setup script with the commands:" this means there are two commands on 2 separate lines - do I have to run the commands one after the other? how can you write 2 commands on a command prompt?
3. Once the script runs, and I am greeted with the opening menu - I believe I will have to choose option '5' - which will update the firmware - is this correct?
4. Will running option 5 also update the BIOS? I am not sure about the difference in Legacy BIOS and SeaBIOS - but I believe BIOS is part of firmware and will be updated when I will replace the stock firmware with your Coreboot firmware - is this correct?
5. After completing the above step - I believe I will no longer be able to run ChromeOS - then how will I be able to run your script again for choosing option 6 - "Create OpenELEC USB/SD Installer (standalone)"?
6. Will option 6 in your script also install the latest version of XBMC?
7. Option 6 says "Create OpenELEC USB/SD Installer (standalone)" - does that mean a SD installer can also be created by inserting a new SSD in the additional SSD slot? I am asking this because I have read on this thread how unreliable USBs can be? What do you say?

Will much appreciate your help.

Thanks
techno

[trick420]

Hi Matt

I plan to customize my Asus Chromebox M075U for running XBMC and have gone through this entire thread and I feel that the safest option is the standalone OE/XBMC option. However there are still a lot of things that still need clarity for a noob like me:

1. After putting the Chromebox in developer mode, and disabling the firmware write protect and getting to command prompt for the first time, how will I login to anything? I believe the command prompt is just a blinking dash to write commands on?

You should see "Login: _" at which point you will enter Chronos and press enter.

2. After logging in with chronos and no password, you say "Download and run the setup script with the commands:" this means there are two commands on 2 separate lines - do I have to run the commands one after the other? how can you write 2 commands on a command prompt?

Correct. First enter "curl -L -O http://goo.gl/3Tfu5W" and press enter. When it finishes, then enter "sudo bash 3Tfu5W" and press enter. The curl command downloads the script from Matt's server to your Chromebox. The sudo bash command executes the script locally on your machine.

3. Once the script runs, and I am greeted with the opening menu - I believe I will have to choose option '5' - which will update the firmware - is this correct?

For standalone installs, use option 5 and that's it! Just follow the prompts once you have started it.

4. Will running option 5 also update the BIOS? I am not sure about the difference in Legacy BIOS and SeaBIOS - but I believe BIOS is part of firmware and will be updated when I will replace the stock firmware with your Coreboot firmware - is this correct?

Yes. you are replacing the stock version with Matts excellent version.

5. After completing the above step - I believe I will no longer be able to run ChromeOS - then how will I be able to run your script again for choosing option 6 - "Create OpenELEC USB/SD Installer (standalone)"?

This is where you need to follow the link under the instructions for standalone and download the open source Chromium OS. Get it from that link, then create a bootable thumb drive. When you need to update the BIOS you will boot to this drive, use ctrl-alt-F2 to get a user shell, and run the curl and sudo bash commands again.

6. Will option 6 in your script also install the latest version of XBMC?

No. It only creates a bootable thumb drive. Once you do this, you press '7' to reboot the Chromebox, then press [esc] on boot and select the thumb drive. This will start the openelec installer.

7. Option 6 says "Create OpenELEC USB/SD Installer (standalone)" - does that mean a SD installer can also be created by inserting a new SSD in the additional SSD slot? I am asking this because I have read on this thread how unreliable USBs can be? What do you say?

Can't say on this one. Haven't tried it. Maybe Matt knows?

[Smobbo]

You can also prepare a separate USB-stick with OpenElec on a different PC.
Just run the OpenElec installer (download from openelec.tv, see link in opening post) and install it to your USB stick (on a 'normal pc'). Then you don't have to do option 6.
Just do option 5, after that plug in your created OpenElec USB-stick and run it.

It is really simple, just take your time and read the instructions clearly, if you follow them step by step it is very clear what you have to do

Side note: remember to have an extra USB-stick for your Chrome Back-up ready and then store it somewhere for save keeping

[Mark the Red]

sounds like you want a standalone setup with Fedora + XBMC + Steam like the poster here: http://forum.xbmc.org/showthread.php?tid...pid1738772 (read next few posts as well)

Maybe he can write up a guide and I can add it to the wiki

Thanks Matt. Reading this thread, I noticed you have Steam installed on your setup. In the event I can't figure out Igor's solution, how did you install Steam on your rig. Simple is good. I like simple.

[Matt Devo]

sounds like you want a standalone setup with Fedora + XBMC + Steam like the poster here: http://forum.xbmc.org/showthread.php?tid...pid1738772 (read next few posts as well)

Maybe he can write up a guide and I can add it to the wiki

Thanks Matt. Reading this thread, I noticed you have Steam installed on your setup. In the event I can't figure out Igor's solution, how did you install Steam on your rig. Simple is good. I like simple.

I downloaded the SteamOS ISO, created the USB installer using the Universal USB Installer (UUI) app, and booted it on the ChromeBox. Same as you would install any other OS from an ISO download. I wouldn't recommend this as a solution for running XBMC however, I was just testing if it would work.

---

7. Option 6 says "Create OpenELEC USB/SD Installer (standalone)" - does that mean a SD installer can also be created by inserting a new SD in the additional SD slot? I am asking this because I have read on this thread how unreliable USBs can be? What do you say?

Can't say on this one. Haven't tried it. Maybe Matt knows?

yes, you can use a SD card to install OpenELEC, same as a USB flash drive. I don't think there are many issues anymore with USB drives, esp if you use my script to create the install media.

[technophile10.1]

5. After completing the above step - I believe I will no longer be able to run ChromeOS - then how will I be able to run your script again for choosing option 6 - "Create OpenELEC USB/SD Installer (standalone)"?

This is where you need to follow the link under the instructions for standalone and download the open source Chromium OS. Get it from that link, then create a bootable thumb drive. When you need to update the BIOS you will boot to this drive, use ctrl-alt-F2 to get a user shell, and run the curl and sudo bash commands again.

Don't you think then it will be advisable to run option 6 of the script before option 5?

[Matt Devo]

Don't you think then it will be advisable to run option 6 of the script before option 5?

the order doesn't matter as long as you create the USB install media before rebooting

[HTeePeeSee]

definitely sounds like an edid issue. plenty of hits regarding onkyo and edid overrides but you may want to start here: http://openelec.tv/forum/68-audio/65894-...id-editing

Also, it would be worth your time to buy an inexpensive Displayport to HDMI cable - early on I had an issue where the BIOS menu would output to the Displayport but the GUI would output to the HDMI port. Matt has long since fixed this, but if you have some strange case going on here it may help you to recover.

Jeff

Thanks guys for the continued help. I think my Onkyo has serious HDMI "EDID" problems and firmware flashing is a little dicey, but I will probably try it at some point.

I did however just hook up a fresh DisplayPort to HDMI cable as suggested to the Onkyo, and get video output only the BIOS screen, and then it goes blank when OpenElec begins to load. HDMI cable shows both.

Is this an issue I need to fix somehow on my Chromebox, or is it likely still my old Onkyo's fault?

[Matt Devo]

Thanks guys for the continued help. I think my Onkyo has serious HDMI "EDID" problems and firmware flashing is a little dicey, but I will probably try it at some point.

I did however just hook up a fresh DisplayPort to HDMI cable as suggested to the Onkyo, and get video output only the BIOS screen, and then it goes blank when OpenElec begins to load. HDMI cable shows both.

Is this an issue I need to fix somehow on my Chromebox, or is it likely still my old Onkyo's fault?

I'm using straight DisplayPort here, connected to a 24" Dell monitor, no issues. I'd guess it's the Onkyo, and would recommend updating the firmware there before trying anything else. Don't know why you'd be more reluctant to do it there than on your ChromeBox ;-)

[technophile10.1]

Hi All

I have just successfully completed the standalone installation of OpenELEC/XBMC on my new Asus Chromebox M075U. Thank you very much Matt for your script, I did everything in one go. I did not face any problem related to USB sticks, black screens, boot failures, error messages, media playback etc, etc.

However, I feel that the instructions can be made more helpful, step by step detailing what to expect and what to do - the current instructions in the wiki on preparing the device for running in developer mode and disabling the firmware write protect, plus Matt's instructions on using his script - are quite cursory and assume that the user is already familiar with a lot of things - which s/he may or may not. For example, in my case:

1. When preparing the device for running in developer mode, it asks for turning on OS verification by pressing space bar - which we are not supposed to - the instructions should mention this
2. The OpenELEC USB Installer will actually install an OE-XBMC combo - which is good - but we should mention this.

Plus there are a lot of other minor details that should be included to help newbies complete the process. I am willing to help re-write the entire process of installing OE/XBMC as a stand alone setup.

Having said this, I still need help on one very important thing: the remote. A user in this thread mentioned using the Xbox One Media Remote, so I bought the Xbox 360 Media Remote but it doesn't work. Any suggestions? Please note that I don't live in USA or Europe so it will be difficult to buy some specialized remote from the market (Xbox One has still not arrived here).

Thank you all once again.
techno

[noggin]

Having said this, I still need help on one very important thing: the remote. A user in this thread mentioned using the Xbox One Media Remote, so I bought the Xbox 360 Media Remote but it doesn't work. Any suggestions? Please note that I don't live in USA or Europe so it will be difficult to buy some specialized remote from the market (Xbox One has still not arrived here).

The Xbox 360 Media Remote is IR and requires a USB IR receiver to work (the Chromebox doesn't have integrated IR). I'm currently using a 360 Media Remote with my Chromebox with a standard OEM Microsoft USB RC6 receiver. This works out of the box with OpenElec - no config required.

In the UK the receiver and a remote control are available here : http://www.maplin.co.uk/p/windows-media-...trol-a49ha I realise you aren't in the UK - but thought a picture might be useful if you end up looking on Amazon or eBay etc. I bought the combo but the remote itself started to become a bit intermittent, so I substituted the Xbox 360 Media Remote instead. (I have the larger of the two 360 Media Remotes - there was a smaller remote which shipped with some Xbox bundles I believe)

The Chromebox does, I believe, have integrated Bluetooth - so a Bluetooth remote may be a better option. The other option is to buy a FLIRC receiver. This is a clever device that appears to be a USB Keyboard, but is - in fact - a learning IR receiver. You can use most consumer IR remotes (so if you have an old DVD Player remote, your Xbox 360 Media remote etc. you can use them) and you can program the FLIRC to map each IR button to a key press.

[technophile10.1]

Having said this, I still need help on one very important thing: the remote. A user in this thread mentioned using the Xbox One Media Remote, so I bought the Xbox 360 Media Remote but it doesn't work. Any suggestions? Please note that I don't live in USA or Europe so it will be difficult to buy some specialized remote from the market (Xbox One has still not arrived here).

The Xbox 360 Media Remote is IR and requires a USB IR receiver to work (the Chromebox doesn't have integrated IR). I'm currently using a 360 Media Remote with my Chromebox with a standard OEM Microsoft USB RC6 receiver. This works out of the box with OpenElec - no config required.

Thank you. Since I have already bought the Xbox 360 Media Remote, so I think my best bet is to look for a IR dongle.