Fix Chrome OS is Missing or Damaged Issue on Chromebook

If you have a Chromebook, you may someday encounter the Chrome OS as a Missing or Damaged issue. This dreadful issue prevents you from using your device peacefully. So, it is essential to learn how to fix it. If you are suffering from the same problem, this post is specially written for you.

Here, I will guide you on how to fix the Chrome OS is Missing issue on a Chromebook. I will provide the 3 most working solutions for this annoying problem. Applying them will help you to get rid of the trouble once, and for all.

What is this issue?

Chromebook is a well-known device for a lightweight, fast, and smooth computing experience. However, sometimes the experience may turn bitter-sour due to some nagging errors. One common example of such errors is the “Chrome OS Is Missing or Damaged.” This particular issue appears when the machine is not able to load the operating system (OS) properly due to underlying causes.

It is generally experienced while trying the start but may also appear randomly while completing any task. When it occurs, you will find the same error message on the screen, and you won’t be able to use your Chromebook further. So, it is very important to get rid of this problem.

What causes the Chrome OS is a Missing or Damaged error?

The Chrome OS is missing or damaged issue is usually caused by corrupt or missing system files, corrupt logs, incorrectly configured system settings, and a virus or malware. These are some of the most common causes of this issue. Apart from these, there are many more causes but we don’t want to waste your time.

It is always helpful to go through the causes of any error before trying to fix it. However, for this particular error, I’d suggest you don’t go through them as it will just be a waste of time. You can easily fix this error by using the solutions available below regardless of the cause.

How to Fix the Chrome OS is Missing or Damaged Issue?

If you have encountered the Chrome OS as a missing or damaged issue, here are the solutions that you can use to solve the problem. I’d suggest trying the second and third solutions only when you are ready to reset your Chromebook. Resetting will delete all the local files of the device.

If you haven’t created a backup yet, but have some very important files on Chromebook, then you should not try to reset your device.

Solution-1: Try a Quick Restart

A quick restart is a potential fix for not only this but a lot of Chromebook issues. You can try it for this problem by following these simple steps:

Step-1: Turn the Chromebook off by pressing and holding the Power button for a few seconds.

Step-2: Wait for 10-15 seconds without doing anything.

Step-3: Now press the power button again to turn the Chromebook on.

That’s it. Now see if the problem is gone.

Solution-2: Reset your Chromebook to Factory Settings

The next solution you can try is to reset your Chromebook to Factory Settings. For this purpose, you have to use Powerwash which is a built-in tool that can restore the device to its original state. It will remove any customizations, settings configurations, and locally stored data.

Once you have backed up the data, follow these steps:

Step-1: When the Chrome book is on, click on the System Clock from the pop-up menu, and then click on the ‘Cog’ icon.

Step-2: In the Settings panel, click on Advanced present on the left to expand the menu, and then click on the ‘Reset Settings’ option present below.

Step-3: Now click on the Reset button present next to Powerwash.

Step-4: Next, click on the Restart button present on the pop-up prompt.

Step-5: Once the procedure is complete (Chrome reboots), you will see a message stating that all your data and settings will be lost. Here, click on the Powerwash button.

Step-6: One final confirmation will appear, click on Continue to give your consent.

Key Tip: A shortcut for Powerwash on Chromebook is holding the CTRL+ALT+SHIFT+R Keys together.

That’s it. The Chromebook will then reboot once more. When it turns on again, it will take some time to wipe off the data, and you’ll have to re-do the setup and log in to your Google account.

Solution-3: Re-install the Chrome OS

Resetting generally solves the problem for the majority of users. However, if you are still experiencing the Chrome OS is missing or damaged issue even after Powerwashing, then the only solution left for you is the fresh installation of the Chrome OS. To do that, you will need a working computer and a USB Flash Drive or SD Card (with at least 8 GB of space).

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Once ready, follow these steps:

Step-1: Open Google Chrome on your working computer, and install the Chromebook Recovery Utility. It is a browser extension, so you only have to click on ‘Add to Chrome‘ to install it.

Step-2: Now launch the program and provide your Chromebook model number. You can select it from the list or enter it manually.

Step-3: Next, connect the USB Flash Drive or SD Card to this computer. When the system prompts, grant the OS permission to make changes to the ejectable drive by clicking on ‘Yes or Allow.’ After that, follow the on-screen instructions to download Chrome OS to the removable media.

Step-4: Once done, remove the USB Flash Drive or SD card from this computer.

Step-5: Now press and hold the ESC+Refresh keys on the keyboard of your Chromebook. Then, press the Power button to reboot in recovery mode.

Step-6: When the error screen appears, insert the USB Flash Drive or SD card where you downloaded the Chrome OS, and then go through the installation.

That’s it. After completing the installation, log in to your Google account, and you will be able to use your Chromebook like when you purchased it.

Summing it up

Chromebook is a very useful device for your daily computing needs. However, some issues like the Chromebook OS being missing or damaged may make your Chromebook worthless. This is how you can solve this annoying issue to get back to work. But, if you are still facing the same issue, then the problem lies within the hardware. You should immediately contact the nearest service center for help.

That’s all for this post. I hope you find it helpful. Feel free to use the comment box to share your experiences related to this issue.