So, here's the issue:

1) I get my Cr-48 in the mail, 2 months after applying and completely forgetting about the program
2) I open it, let it warm and charge, and then turn it on, to be greeted with a "Chrome OS is missing or damaged. Please connect a recovery device" screen. The text below reads "Model: IEC MARIO FISH 2330"
3) I write the recovery image to a generic Dane-Elec 4G flash drive using Windows Disk Imager.
4) Recovery appears to succeed, Chrome OS runs and updates, and after a few short minutes of normal use, the notebook freezes.
5) Upon powering down, and rebooting, the error from before reappears. Unlike before, the recovery process fails with a variety of messages each time.
6) The next day, I power on the notebook on a whim to see that it is working. I set it up, let it update, only to have it freeze minutes later.
7) Step 5 repeats
Next day, Chrome OS works right up until the update process, and freezes.
9) Now, the recovery process reliably fails with the same odd message: "Error performing system recovery!"
10) I contacted a Chrome Ninja days ago, with no response yet.

Please, if I could be helped in any way to make the notebook work again, I'd be grateful.

Tried an unofficial recovery image. That also failed, "Error performing system recovery!"
I hate this notebook.

Hello McKillington. Well, I found this and I hope it will solve your problem. Someone already solved his crashed CR-48 during boot up with using Ubuntu: [SOLVED] Using Ubuntu to Recover Google Chrome OS on CR-48 - Ubuntu Forums

My cr-48 as well suddenly stopped turning on, and I was using the beta channel not the developer, plus I haven't even flipped the developer switch. I tried the link you gave to fix it with Ubuntu but it didn't work, I also tried to restore it with a Mac, again to no avail.

I am having the same problems I have been using several different USBs and I tried creating the restore in Windows and Linux ( Ubuntu 10.10) and I can not get it to work. I have a thread I created on the Pilot program forums. https://groups.google.com/forum/?fro...ot/BWSZy5eSppQ

i have that same problem but not as often. i email chrome ninjas and they said that some of devices shipped with faulty SSDs, which would unplug and this would happen. i usually solve it by taking out the battery or tapping on the handrest while booting up(left side of touchpad, thats where the SSD is located)