Chromebooks - Can anyone help please?

[Terpsichore]

I have just spent a lot of money on a new Chromebook. While setting it up in accordance with the instructions and before I could connect it to my phone the screen froze. I received an email from @google "Smart; lock is turned on" you can use your phone.

The problem is that my phone is not yet connected to my Chromebook. I am not sure that my phone can ever be connected to the Chromebook at it is a 5-year-old Huawei but my Chromebook can't be connected to any kind of phone until its screen is unfrozen and the lock removed.

I have spent most of the night scouring the internet looking for articles on how to unlock a smart lock without a phone. There are plenty of infuriating articles about "how great" this feature is supposed to be but very few on how to unlock a "smart lock" without a phone connection.

The most helpful suggestion so far is to attempt a Powerwash. I have tried to do that but I am scuppered by the absence of a cursor so I can't press the blue "continue" button on the "Are you sure you really want a Powerwash?" screen.

Is there any viable alternative to returning my Chromebook to the retailer, exchanging it for a Windows machine or an Apple computer and phone and never touching Chromebooks, Android or Google ever again?

Edited April 9, 2020 by alison
To reduce font size

[alison]

A couple of thoughts:

 

- ask on the Chromebook forum: https://www.chromebookforum.com/forum/

 

- contact the manufacturers, or the Chromebook people - not sure which

 

More immediately, are you able to *tab* onto the "Continue" button and hit Enter?

 

That apart, I'm afraid I'm a bit stuck  

 

Oh, and if your Chromebook doesn't have its own integral wi-fi, beware: despite the fact that it is supposed to work fully offline, I've had cases where mine (admittedly elderly by now) wouldn't allow me to log into it at all when I wasn't connected to the internet.  A very awkward situation, particularly since I was supposed to be doing a ticket pickup at the time, and I was in an area without any free wi-fi in the immediate vicinity

[alison]

Incidentally, since you're considering never touching a Chromebook again, can I ask what your thinking was behind buying one, when you're less pressured?  That might make a difference.

[Terpsichore]

Thanks Alison.  Your suggestions are worth a try.

I have used Chromebooks successfully for several years. This would have been my third.  I need it now more than ever. That is why I am so exasperated.

[alison]

 

I wasn't sure whether it was your first one.  Glad to know they work for some people   They're too limited for me.  Not to mention the fact that Google suddenly decide to withdraw support from them after a few years.

 

Hope you manage to get it sorted quickly, Terpsichore.