Chromebooks

Welcome! Here are some answers to your common Chromebook questions. If you have a question that's not on here, email the helpdesk.

What kind of Chromebook do I have?

Class of 2024: Lenovo 300e Gen 2

Class of 2025: CTL NL71T

Class of 2026: CTL NL72T

I've lost my charger, what do I do?

You need to buy a replacement. Here is a link to an appropriate replacement. Your Chromebook uses a 45w USB-C charger.

Problem: My Chromebook isn't working! What should I do?

First trying turning it off and on again. If that still doesn't work, email the helpdesk.

Problem: My Chromebook won’t turn on.

First, check if the battery is charging by plugging your Chromebook into a power outlet. (Usually, you'll see a light turn on.) If your Chromebook is charging, let it charge for at least 30 minutes. If it still won't turn on, email the helpdesk and/or come to the helpdesk.

If your Chromebook still isn't charging:

1. Check if the charger or adapter cables are completely plugged in, both to your Chromebook and the wall.

2. Make sure that the power outlet is working.

3. Unplug your charger from the wall and your Chromebook.

4. Plug your charger back into your Chromebook, then the wall.

5. Charge the device for at least 30 minutes.

Problem: My Chromebook is super laggy when I’m browsing/using the Web. 

Laggy online performance is usually a symptom of your laptop’s age rather than a fundamental problem that can be fixed.

Some older Chromebooks struggle to deal with the demands of tab hogs (people that have more than 3-5 tabs open). As a rule of thumb, the older your device, the fewer tabs you can run at once. Close some tabs. 

Problem: My Chromebook is generally slow, even when I’m not on the Web. 

If you find your Chromebook lags even when you’re not doing anything online (e.g. when you’re using the calculator or watching a locally-saved video), it could be a sign that you need to update your machine.

Google is constantly releasing new versions of the operating system. They will automatically install themselves whenever you restart your computer, but if you’re the kind of person who leaves your computer running 24/7, you could be a few updates behind. So, restart your Chromebook. 

Problem: My screen isn’t displaying properly.

Unfortunately, this could be a variety of problems. However, the most common problem is a cracked screen. 

Sometimes the crack impacts the entire screen, sometimes, you can still see some of the screen.

Unfortunately, the only solution is professional repair. Email the helpdesk and bring it to the helpdesk.

Problem: I see an error message on the screen that has a yellow exclamation point and the words, “Chrome OS is missing or damaged.” 

Make sure your Chromebook is fully charged. Then, try restarting your computer.  If that does not fix it, email the helpdesk and bring it to the helpdesk. Your device will most likely have to be repaired by the manufacturer.