---
title: ASUS Chromebook C201 installation guide 
x-toc-enable: true
...

WARNING: This board is known to have non-functioning video init at the time
of writing, 19 February 2023. It is as yet unsolved.

See: <https://notabug.org/libreboot/lbmk/issues/136>

Introduction
===========

This page contains information about assembly and disassembly, for flashing
the ASUS Chromebook C201 externally. It will also link to internal flashing
instructions, and information about U-Boot.

Flashrom
--------

A special fork of flashrom, maintained by Google, is required for flashing.
More information about this is present in the generic [chromebook flashing
instructions](chromebooks.md).

Depthcharge payload (obsolete)
------------------------------

This board was also supported in Libreboot 20160907, with the Depthcharge
payload. Support was dropped in later releases, and then re-added in the
December 2022 release but with *u-boot* payload (not *depthcharge*).

Refer to older versions of this page, in `lbwww.git`, if you wish to see
instructions pertaining to Depthcharge:

* <https://notabug.org/libreboot/lbwww/src/4be2eed23e11b1071cd500a329abf654ab25f942/site/docs/install/c201.md>
* <https://notabug.org/libreboot/lbwww/src/4be2eed23e11b1071cd500a329abf654ab25f942/site/docs/hardware/c201.md>

U-boot payload
==============

U-Boot was ported to coreboot CrOS devices, courtesy of Alper Nebi
Yasak (`alpernebbi` on Libreboot IRC).

Read the section pertaining to U-boot payload:

[u-boot payload documentation for Libreboot](../uboot/)

Internal flashing
=================

External flashing is possible, but only necessary in the event of a *brick*.
If you're flashing good firmware, and the machine boots properly, you can
do it in software, from the host CPU.

In the past, C201 was the only CrOS device so this page contained information
about internal flashing. Libreboot now supports many more CrOS devices, so
the information has moved.

See: [chromebook flashing instructions](chromebooks.md)

Write-protect screw
-------------------

The chromebook flashing instructions, linked above, refer to a *screw* that
can be turned, to disable flash protection. This is necessary, for internally
flashing the C201. This section will tell you how to access that screw.

To access the screw, the device has to be opened. There are 8 screws to remove
from the bottom of the device, as shown on the picture below. Two are hidden
under the top pads. After removing the screws, the keyboard plastic part can be
carefully detached from the rest. Beware: there are cables attached to it! It
is advised to flip the keyboard plastic part over, as shown on the picture
below. The write protect screw is located next to the SPI flash chip, circled
in red in the picture below. It has to be removed. Refer to the following
photos:

[![Screws](https://av.libreboot.org/c201/screws.jpg)](https://av.libreboot.org/c201/screws.jpg)

[![WP screw](https://av.libreboot.org/c201/wp-screw.jpg)](https://av.libreboot.org/c201/wp-screw.jpg)

The write protect screw can be put back in place later, when the device
is known to be in a working state.

External flashing
=================

If the machine is no longer booting, due to bad firmware, you can unbrick
it externally. Refer to [external flash instructions](spi.md).

[![SPI flash
layout](https://av.libreboot.org/c201/spi-flash-layout.jpg)](https://av.libreboot.org/c201/spi-flash-layout.jpg)

[![Battery
connector](https://av.libreboot.org/c201/battery-connector.jpg)](https://av.libreboot.org/c201/battery-connector.jpg)

You do not need to correct the `WP#` pin because it is held high via pull-up
resistor to 3.3v, when the write-protect screw is loosened (when tightened,
the screw grounds this pin; the pull-up resistor is to prevent a dead short).

You must remove the battery, prior to flashing. The connector is shown in
the 2nd photo, above (the big black connector, with the black, green, yellow,
white and red wires going into it). Simply unplug that.
