Recovery Techniques 

Recover a Chromebook : Shouild things go wrong with your Chromebook ...

Click here to read an official Google Support page that explains different recovery techniques.

USB Thumb Drive : Create a recovery media for your Chromebook

Click here to read a Tech Republic article by Jack Wallen.

Click here to read a similar article by AboutChromebooks called "Why every Chromebook owner should carry a USB key or SD card with them" and how to use it.

Hardware Reset

After applying a regular update to chromeOS I started getting problems with a slow responsive mouse pointer on my Asus CX9 Chromebook. I Googled the issue and came up with several hits including this …

Reset the hardware and check if your mouse or touchpad issues are gone.

• Disconnect all the external devices connected to your computer.

• Turn off your laptop, and wait for 30 seconds.

• Then press and hold the Refresh [normally the 3rd key in from top left with a 'circular arrow' icon] and Power keys.

• Wait until your Chromebook boots up, and then release the Refresh key.

Worked a treat ! Don’t know if it affects users across the board as it may only effect certain kings of hardware. However it’s good to know a simple solution is there when you need it. 

By the way if your keyboard is not made for chromeOS and does not have Refresh key, you will find that on standard keyboards the "F3" function key should do the job.

Factory Reset & Powerwashing : Terminology and Actions Demystified

The chromeOS is web-centric, and because of this it has the unique [amongst other operating systems] ability to be repaired or refreshed using information already stored within your Google Account.

Click here to read a Google support page "Reset your Chromebook hardware" which explains what and why.

Click here to read a ChromeUnboxed article on the subject of Factory reset and the Powerwash process, and the merits of doing it periodically just to keep the computer fresh.

Click here to get an article by CNET giving their angle on the same topic.

Roll Back : If your Chromebook fails after a system update - go back

ChromeOS updates are usually very stable but it is possible, on rare occasions, that something is released that does not agree with the physical make up of your Chromebook. 

Click here to see a useful video from ChromeUnboxed that explains how to get it working again with the previous level of the system that ran o.k. 

N.B. This involves Powerwashing your machine so it's always a good idea to be familiar with any customisation you may have done. Make a note of your favourites Apps and anything else you may have downloaded - ensure that any data [held locally and not automatically saved in "The Cloud"] is properly backed up. 

Of course all of these checks need to be done while your system is still working - it's no use "shutting the stable door after the horse has bolted". So if you have not already done so, DO IT NOW !