A good read from MakeUseOf on USB C Charging:
The Best USB-C Chargers: What’s Safe and What’s Dangerous? - LINK
For the CTL Chromebooks, they can charge with a max voltage of 15V and 3 amps. Any replacement adapters look for a 15V / 3A (preferred) or 15V 2A. as well as a 5V / 3A option.
Google requires chargers that meet the PD3.0 protocol. Others may or may not work.
For example with the NL7/T/TW
The EC controller feedback 15V as preference output to PD on the power adaptor.
When the NL7 is first plugged in -
1. 5V output – Initial communicated preference configuration - the handshake
2. 15V output - Chromebook and adapter negotiate fix output at 15v for maximum charging speed.
To avoid any vulnerabilities, update ChromeOS to R63
From Google Security: Link
Snippets:
Last year, Google’s Project Zero team discovered serious security flaws caused by “speculative execution,” a technique used by most modern processors (CPUs) to optimize performance.
The Project Zero researcher, Jann Horn, demonstrated that malicious actors could take advantage of speculative execution to read system memory that should have been inaccessible. For example, an unauthorized party may read sensitive information in the system’s memory such as passwords, encryption keys, or sensitive information open in applications. Testing also showed that an attack running on one virtual machine was able to access the physical memory of the host machine, and through that, gain read-access to the memory of a different virtual machine on the same host.
These vulnerabilities affect many CPUs, including those from AMD, ARM, and Intel, as well as the devices and operating systems running on them.
Google Chrome OS (e.g., Chromebooks):
Intel Chrome OS devices on kernels 3.18 and 4.4 are patched with Kernel Page Table Isolation (KPTI) in Chrome OS 63 and above. Older kernels will be patched with KPTI in a future release. Known attacks do not affect existing ARM Chrome OS devices, but these devices will also be patched with KPTI in a future release.
| Public codename | Marketing name | Kernel version | Architecture | Auto update ends (*=official) | KPTI on M63? |
KPTI eventually?
|
| enguarde | CTL N6 Education Chromebook | 4.4.107 | x86_64 | 2020-03-01 | Yes | Yes |
| jerry | CTL J2 / J4 Chromebook for Education | 3.14 | armv7l | 2020-04-01 | Not needed | TBD |
| relm | CTL NL61 Chromebook | 3.18 | x86_64 | 2021-08-01 | Yes | Yes |
| wizpig | CTL J5 Chromebook | 3.18 | x86_64 | 2021-08-01 | Yes | Yes |
For all EDU customers, CTL now includes 2-way shipping for in-warranty RMA issues in the first year. This update includes any previous EDU orders in the last year. CTL is excited to extend this to our EDU customers to help make the repair process simpler and easier. For new purchases, upgrades are available for Two and Three-year 2-way shipping.
FAQ:
Q: How do I know my RMA qualifies for 2-way shipping?
A:
Q: What type of PPL is sent?
A: A UPS/FedEx Ground label is sent via email. Please specify the size and weight of the shipping box or boxes.
Q: What if it is accidental damage that isn’t covered under my warranty?
A: Unfortunately, you will be responsible for costs to send in that RMA. CTL does offer optional accidental warranties for 1, 2, and 3 years.
Q: Does this apply to all CTL products?
A: This applies to the CTL brand of Chromebooks
Q: Does this include areas outside of the continental USA?
A: At this time only the continental USA.
Q: What If I need to upgrade the speed of the return?
A: This would require you to cover the difference in cost.
Q: Is this offer available through the Web?
A: This is available to any EDU customer that has purchased CTL Chromebooks.
Q: Do I need to contact my sales Rep to obtain this offer?
A: No, you just need to submit a ticket to CTL via the help desk or email.
Recommended Cleaning Method: (Short instructions)
Warning Note: Using Windex, Pledge or other similar household products that contain ammonia on your screen can damage the anti-glare coating of your screen. Unfortunately we know of no way to repair this so please be advised that the anti-glare coatings on most of today's screens need to be cleaned with solutions made specifically for screen cleaning, such as Photodon Ultra screen cleaning solution.
Treat your screen as you would an expensive camera lens, by using quality cleaning materials and tested techniques. The biggest concern is not to damage the special anti-glare coatings applied to these surfaces. Purchase a specially designed kit for cleaning your display which should contain high-quality microfiber cloth and a specially formulated quality cleaning solution.
LCD and LED screens are made of plastic materials, unlike the big shiny curved glass tubes of yesteryear. This soft plastic film is vulnerable to scratches, damage by sharp articles and/or improper cleaners. All these screens require special attention to clean properly and safely.
Things NOT To Do:
Good Things To Do:
Worth Repeating: Most screens have an anti-glare coating that can be permanently scratched or easily worn by excessive wiping pressure or from improper cleaning solutions. Make certain that the cloths you use are clean and do not contain any sand or grit.
Streaking is caused by not applying enough solution to the screen. If the screen dirt is not suspended in solution, it creates more of a paste, which the cloth spreads leaving streaks. This can be damaging to the surface coatings. Working on a warm screen causes the solution to evaporate too quickly which will have the same result as using not enough solution.
If you know you have a good, fine mist sprayer on your solution bottle, spray the solution directly onto the screen surface. Have your cleaning cloth in hand, ready to catch any runs that may develop before they reach the screen edge. On a laptop, you may be able to position the screen more horizontally to reduce this risk.
With a clean microfiber cloth, use light wiping pressure, rotate the cloth often and wipe over any one area a minimal number of times.
Each filament of microfiber is a hundred times thinner than a human hair and is split into wedge-shaped strands, multiplying the surface area the osmosis/wicking power many times. Microfiber lifts more of the finer dirt particles, oily fingerprints, streaks and other contaminates. Microfiber screen cloths can clean the surface of an LCD monitor far better than a cotton cloth with much less linting.
Use 70% isopropyl alcohol, a first aid antiseptic available at the drug store diluted, 50-50% with pure or distilled water as a solution under the following circumstances. Do not use often as it can deteriorate/dry and make plastic brittle and the effect on screen coating
If your Chromebook is a 2GB model, its light specs might not be able to keep up with your high usage and will run slow when you have too many browsers or apps open at the same time. Close a few tabs and apps and see if this improves the speed. If that doesn’t help, check if there is a problem with your internet connection. Remember that a Chromebook runs apps directly from the web, so a reliable connection matters a lot in maximizing its performance.
Your OS could also be running slow because your Chrome OS hasn’t been updated recently. Check your System Update Icon (the one which looks like an arrow in the status section of your Google account picture or icon). Click the arrow, then select Restart to Update. If the System Update Icon doesn’t appear, then go to Settings > About Chrome OS > Check for and apply updates. Note: This will reboot your device so make sure to do important backups first.
Isn’t it annoying when your Chromebook freezes, mysteriously closes every window, or suddenly shuts down? One main culprit for such problems is your extensions, which you may have unknowingly downloaded. Go to your Chrome menu in the toolbar, choose More Tools > Extensions. Here you can view a list of all your extensions and whether they are enabled or disabled. Try disabling the more recent extensions you’ve downloaded and see if that improves things. If that doesn’t help, then delete the extensions you aren’t using anymore.
When you receive this notification, it could mean that your OS is not working properly. Sometimes, restarting your device is all it takes to solve the problem. But if that doesn’t fix it, then you have to recover your Chromebook. This will permanently delete everything on your hard drive and even downloaded files, so make sure to backup your files on Google Drive before performing a recovery. Here is a step by step guide from Google Support on how to recover your Chromebook.
Did you receive an error message when you tried updating your Chrome OS? This could happen when you are using your mobile data when running an update. Aside from causing errors, this will also rake in huge charges or use up your monthly data. So make sure to turn off your mobile data and connect to a strong Ethernet or Wi-Fi connection when performing software updates.
If you’ve connected to Wi-Fi or Ethernet and still get an error message, restart your Chromebook. Save what you’re currently working on, then hold the power button to fully shut down your device. Press the power button again to restart.
An Update Won’t Download
Try the two steps in the problem discussed above. If that still doesn’t fix the error, then you need to reset your Chromebook. Make sure to do this only on a personal Chromebook and not one for work or school. Also, remember to save everything to the cloud first because resetting will erase all your settings and everything on your hard drive. When you’re done saving, go to Settings > Advanced Settings > Powerwash > Reset > Restart, then enter your Google Account details.
If you’re still getting error messages, the last recourse is to recover your Chromebook.
Make sure you’re actually connected to a Wi-Fi network. If there is an X covering your Wi-Fi icon, then you are not connected. Click the icon, choose No Network > Turn Wi-Fi On. This allows your Chromebook to search for and connect to an available Wi-Fi network. If you still can’t connect, restart your laptop.
In rare cases, the cause of this problem is because you are using an old router. Try connecting to a different wireless network, and if it works, it might be time to upgrade your current router.
Whether it is your Chromebook or Chrome browser that turns off, then back on repetitively, the most probable cause for this issue is a problem with the operating system. And the solution is to fully recover your Chrome laptop. Again, remember to back up your files on Google Drive, another cloud file, or an external hard drive before beginning the recovery process.
If you’ve typed in the correct web address and still get this error message, then it is most likely issues with cookies or proxies. It’s best to delete all your cookies. But make sure you’ve saved all your passwords somewhere else secure first before deleting cookies. When you’re ready, go to Settings > Show advanced settings > Privacy > Content Settings > All cookies and site data > Remove All.
As for proxy issues, try to change your proxy settings if you know the correct proxy. Go to Settings > Internet Connection, check the box for Allow proxies for shared networks, then input the correct proxy settings.
The first step is to check if your Chromebook actually works with Bluetooth. Most, but not all, Chrome OS devices have Bluetooth functionality. If the Bluetooth logo is found in your status area, then your laptop is compatible with Bluetooth devices. Make sure it isn’t turned off (indicated by a bar across the logo). If it’s turned off, turn it on by scanning your accessories. Click the Bluetooth icon, then select Enable Bluetooth. It also helps to keep the Bluetooth device close to your Chromebook, properly pair it, and input the correct codes (if any).
The CTL NL61, NL61T, J5, J2, J4, J4+ and the X-Panel variations will all support Android Apps. Google hasn't released the exact date but it is expected in Q1 of 2017.
This is the complete list of Chromebooks from Google:
https://developer.android.com/topic/arc/device-support.html
CTL Chromebook J2 / J4
N6 Education Chromebook
J5 Convertible Chromebook
How to Side Load an App (APK) on a Chromebook - Link
Popular location to get APKs **use at your own risk** http://www.apkmirror.com/
When a device is returned to CTL you must deprovision the device to allow for repairs to happen. It is very likely, to service you as fast as possible, that a replacment device will be sent back to you that has a different serial number.
Here are the steps to deprovions the device from Google:
https://support.google.com/chrome/a/answer/3523633?hl=en
To manage Chrome devices, admins first need to enroll the devices to their domain. Once enrolled, admins can view their devices in the Google Admin console and deprovision devices that are no longer in use, including Chrome devices that are returned or obsolete. Remember when using the Forced re-enrollment policy to deprovision devices that are no longer managed by your domain.
Chrome devices that have been enrolled display a status of Provisioned within the device list. The last sync time indicates the most recent time it has synced the device policies you set in the Admin console.
To remove devices that are no longer active and to clean up your Admin console, you can deprovision Chrome devices. Deprovisioning removes the following from the selected devices:
Do the following to deprovision the devices:
Sometimes due to the wipe and cleaning process the demo chromebooks are asking for credentials to re-enroll into the CTL domain.
We have two domains. Our demo devices are in transition to the education demo domain:
You can use:
Email: enroll@gedu.demo.ctleducation.com
If that doesn't work
Email: enroll@ctl.net
Both Passwords are:
Password: enroll@CTL
Lithium Ion batteries are a great technology for laptops, Chromebooks, iPads, and many other tech gadgets. But there are storage situations that must be considered to ensure a long life.
This applies to any of technology device with Lithium Ion Batteries:
1. If possible keep the devices on a trickle charge when not in use. Charge carts are an ideal storage device for Chromebooks.
2. Place the Chromebook battery in cut-off mode (For NL6 Series only - J Series Pending) by first pressing F3 (refresh key) then POWER. While holding REFRESH and POWER unplug AC power jack. To be able to power back on the Chromebook just plug back in the AC power.
3. To turn the Chromebook back on after storage plug in the AC adapter.
It is possible to completely drain Lithium Ion battery to the point where it will not be able to recharge. There is always a slight drain on a battery when in a device. With extended time and without following the guidelines above a failed battery is possible.
If you have any questions, please let us know.
If you are experiencing any battery problems with your NL6 or J Series Chromebook please contact support@ctl.net.
Battery specification and recommendations of the NL6 -Link
Battery specifications and recommendations of the J Series -Link
Updated page with all recoveries. Please look up the code name below or search for the CTL device name: LINK
Items you'll need:
Procedure: (Google Documentation)
If you need to recover or update your Chromebook, you can use the Chromebook Recovery Utility to create recovery media and get your Chromebook working like new again.
Before using the utility, make sure that you have:
If your Chromebook isn't working properly, you can use an extra Chromebook or another Windows or Mac computer to create recovery media. Otherwise, you can follow these steps on your Chromebook if you want to create recovery media to use later.
If you're using a Linux computer, follow the instructions listed after Step 6.
at the top right in the Chromebook Recovery Utility and select "Use Local Image".Important:All of the data on the recovery media will be deleted if you continue.
The tool will then create the recovery image on your selected media. Don't remove the flash drive or SD card while this is happening. After you see the message saying that your recovery media is ready, you may remove it from your Chromebook or computer.
More info:Restore your Chromebook using your newly-created media.
The Chromebook Recovery Utility partitions the USB or SD media into different sections, which means you can’t store data on it unless you wipe the drive clean.
You can use the Chromebook Recovery Utility to erase the recovery files and partitions so that you can use the USB or SD media for storage again:
.The tool will then erase the recovery image on your selected media. Don't remove the flash drive or SD card while this is happening.
After you see the message saying that your recovery media is prepared for formatting, you may remove it from your Chromebook and format it using a tool provided by your operating system.
