How can I run a program that needs windows 7 on a chromebook

burtons

I've been using a windows 7 laptop for a program I need but since dropping the laptop and breaking the screen I now need a way of using windows 7 on a chromebook but how would I do this using the hard drive from the laptop

Neil_Jones

What program is it?  What are you trying to do?

Screens are replaceable in laptops, and you can usually hook them up to external monitors or TVs.  What's your laptop model number?

burtons

Neil_Jones said:

What program is it?  What are you trying to do?

Screens are replaceable in laptops, and you can usually hook them up to external monitors or TVs.  What's your laptop model number?

I have car diagnostics software that needs windows 7.  I did think about a new screen but as I need a new battery it's not worth it. I want to use the hard drive out of the windows 7 laptop and run it on from the chromebook. 

Neil_Jones

Chromebooks were not made for Windows.  Simple as.  It can be done with 10, but a) its not officially supported, and b) it may struggle for drivers.  Also its quite unlikely that 7 will work on it.

You're welcome to try it though, but it will not be as simple as just sticking the drive in it.  7 will probably need repairing/reconfiguring, and then will spend a lot of time peeing and moaning about reactivation if you get it booting.

It may be simpler in the long run to either see if you can find a the same or similar laptop either refurb or second-hand and put your hard drive into that.  Or fix the existing one (batteries are not expensive and neither are screens).

HereToday

Plug the broken screen laptop into an external monitor and use it that way. Shame that you wasted money on a Chromebook....
Unless you needed to run Android applications, what is the point?

MattMattMattUK

You might be able to use one of the VMs on Chrome OS to run the application but it does not work for every program and for ones which need to access external hardware there might be some issues, but it is possible. You can not however run it off of the old Windows hard drive.

What is the program and do the provider offer a version for Android/Chrome? 

burtons

HereToday said:

Plug the broken screen laptop into an external monitor and use it that way. Shame that you wasted money on a Chromebook....
Unless you needed to run Android applications, what is the point?

The chromebook is my daughters old one so I was going to use it as I'm still using windows 7 as my main computer.