I am in Shanghai. I will be here for a while. I brought my Chromebook w me. I was using it for a while, then suddenly it decided to update something before logging in. It could not connect to the network, since VPN was not active and could have been activated only upon logging in. So it did not log in.
(In China, you need VPN to access servers located in the US)
I tried to share my phone’s internet using VPN on my phone, it did not work. I tried the soft reset (power on and another button) it did not work. I tried to share the internet from my phone and this time was sharing the wifi and not mobile data, but with or without VPN, did not work. Every single time I am trying to log in it says that there is no internet connection. But in guest mode, I can browse and do anything, except using VPN, since that is an android app.
If you have any ideas, please feel free to share. I have tons of time to try. One of the possible solutions would be to find a place where the Internet is not blocked by the great wall, but that is not really possible.
You should be able to sign into your account without an active network connection. If you are using a service like Private Internet Access or Tunnelbear that will prevent you from accessing the internet without an active VPN connection, it may block your connection until you are able to get to the VPN interface and reselect your server.
I live in Beijing, also using my Chromebook as my daily driver. If I understand your problem correctly, you should just be able to turn on the Chromebook, disconnect from the internet, then login. Once in, just reconnect and turn on your VPN. Again, unless I’m misunderstanding the problem, which is entirely possible. In which case, let me know and I’ll try again to help.
I am using Express VPN that is supposed to be safe. Locals don’t want to access (and exceptions are using VNPs like mine). I think I am safe. Famous last sentences, I know.
That’s now in the paat because i did a reset so now i need to do the initial setup. But seriously, i could not log in offline. I did not understand that either, i had been using my device offline a lot before and knew all the tricks what i can do and what i cannot and how to overcome. Until this time. Resetting was my last solution.
I did a reset vecause i was nit able to login like you mentioned. I knew it was supposed to work, but it was keep trying to connect. Maybe i did not try switching off the wifi, but i am 70% sure i tried that too. Had 21days in quarantine to try. Now all i can do is the initial setup.
I will also go to China sometime later, so i’m interested in this topic, but haven’t tested out yet(have a chance to test it out). As long as i know locals using Chromebooks just install other distros in it. However Chinese government tend to lift the ban about Google, Google translate is already can be used in mainland since late 2019, and Google Scholar ban will be lifted around later this year or beginning of 2022.
Nope, i was not clear. The issue is not resolved. I was trying to say that hiw i came to the conclusion to do powerwash. Not like it has any relevancy now because i have to start from scratch and setup the Chromebook but i cannot reach the internet wothout vpn, but to start the vpn i should log in.
How it all started: a month ago i tried to log in. It wanted to cinnect to the internet. Why? No idea. I used before offline. There was never any problem. I could not manage to connect the Internet. I think I tried switching the wifi off but then it was telling me that it has to connect to the internet so switch on the wifi. I tried to connect to my phone, or wifi, no luck. Probably for the same reason, it could not reach Google servers. So i said let’s do a powerwash.
Now the situation is the same, cannot connect. The only difference is that before it was asking me to log in to MY ACCOUNT but now it is just saying i have to connet to the internet and not to log in to my account.
Yes, China is slowly improving and they really have impressed me with especially support to open source software and linux etc. They still need to improve thou