Learn how to install ChromeOS Flex on an old Windows laptop, create a bootable USB drive, test hardware, and avoid losing files.

Having an aging piece of tech hardware can be anxiety building. Watching a machine you paid hundreds of dollars for like a personal computer deteriorate and stop getting updates is disheartening.

When my brother was killed in 2017, I inherited his Apple setup, including a 2012 Mac mini. Initially inclined to donate the computer, I decided to keep it as a reminder of the Apple-obsessed Frankie.

This $3 USB stick can turn your old laptop into a fast, capable machine with no technical experience required. Here's what it is and how it works.