Google is launching a Chromebook repair program for schools. Chromebooks are hugely popular in schools due to their simple and easy-to-manage operating system, but in any educational setting, hardware can be easily damaged, so why? Why don't you learn to repair yourself?
Google's new repair site has a guide on setting up a Chromebook repair facility, recommends that schools create a dedicated repair space, provides a front desk for "customers" to drop damaged equipment and describe problems, and provides students with a skills tracker.
Acer and Lenovo are the only two OEMs participating in the repair program, and Google provides teardown instructions for specific models on the Chromebook Repair site. These repair guides are excellent, with tons of detailed pictures and drawings showing where every screw and cable is, as well as for instructions on how to make a USB recovery key. The guide also warns that the warranty will void if repairs are attempted.
The website doesn't offer much guidance on where to buy parts or the tools needed for repairs, other than instructing schools to "visit your device manufacturer's support website" for help. The guides also all stop at screwdriver work and don't cover things like replacing components with a soldering iron.
Google says the school repair program can not only get school computers back up and running, but it can also provide students with valuable repair skills and even be an introduction to IT careers.
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