For those interested - Google Chrome

Using a portable version of Chrome. Didn't like the programmed version. Now using portable version of FFox3, TBird and now Chrome. I think I'm hooked on the "portable" idea.

Chrome does have some interesting features. It is a "beta" so it's really not ready for prime time yet, although it shows promise. FFox3 runs circles around it as far as I'm concerned.

Bob

 

For those interested in installing Google Chrome be aware that that thing installs files all over your computer in folders nestled 5 and 6 deep. It also places scads of entries in the registry and if you uninstall it, it leaves all that stuff there. It even has any Mozilla (read firefox) browser automatically updating Chrome. It took me the better part of two hours to get rid of that thing.

The problem I had was after I initially uninstalled it via the Chrome uninstaller I found that I had a lot of data coming down via broadband and running the heck out of my hard drive. It fairly froze everything and I traced it to the Chrome updater program. I had uninstalled Chrome so what the heck was that still doing there.

I finally got rid of everything and back to normal. I just love the Chrome program. I like the way it handles things but Chrome is bad news. It's worse than Norton and even a pretty good uninstaller program couldn't find any of the stuff left over.

It seems that Google has decided that they have the right to do whatever they want with your computer and have in fact, done just that.

I searched for "google chrome uninstall" and found lots of stuff and people having the same problem. Check this.

For the average computer user, once you install Chrome, Google has you for the long term.

Giles

 

Google, surprisingly, labels most of its services/programs as beta. Don't know when they are going to update that to "production ready ".

 

I wouldn't touch beta programs with a ten foot pole. Those who install beta software should expect "issues" and frankly, they're going to get them. No software is perfect, but installing beta software which has little support and is frequently very buggy is just plain reckless. And why? When we have perfectly good browsers (i.e. Firefox, Opera, Internet Explorer) why on earth would someone mess around with Google Chrome still in this unfinished condition? It makes absolutely no sense.

 

Bravery

 

This is to James. I know that you are careful, but your "betaphobia" is unreasonable.

You are free to do what you want, of course.
I look at all software, and, it has never caused any problem. Some software, like Seamonkey2.0a1pre( so at a very early stage) is as solid as a rock. Google Browser has been kept under wraps, so, although they call it beta, it may be, really, a pre-alpha.
Software needs testing, and why not multiple browsers? Otherwise, why not stick to IE, as Microsoft would like.

Note: Any problem which surfaced with my computer has appeared since my ten attempts to install SP3, which aborted, and then going back to SP2.
Microsoft does not have a clue why.

 

I think that Paranoids Anonymous has probably seen a jump in membership since Chrome appeared.
I try all beta programmes, being confident enough in using True Image, and I haven't had any problems in the last ten years. I like Chrome, and I'm looking forward to seeing add-ons from FF added to it.
As a matter of interest I also use a small prog called Vista Manager, and amongst its attributes is a programme remover which also searches for any associated files, or registry entries, which are left behind by the de-installation. Worth a look!

Roger

 

Wow! That data collecting scares me. I have Chrome set up as a "portable" on a separate partition and on a usb flash plugin. Have made a pretty thorough registry search and found no other entries relating to "chrome" or "google chrome ". I hope I'm pretty safe; at least for the moment.

Just playing with chrome. FFox is still the primary for all my real net work. It has adblock; all the other security add-ons, etc. Is quite stable, fast, easy to use and most important: very reliable.

In any case your point is well taken. Those who are not in my position would best not even fool with it. I may give up myself after a while. It is fast, relatively plain, simple and does have some new, interesting features but nothing that I find to be earth shaking innovations.

I'll keep FFox, thank you.

Bob

 

Well... I suppose that's good news for you. Your confidence, however, does not necessarily translate into wisdom for the average user (I am one of those). Unlike yourself, I am not overly confident about handling beta software, particularly of the nature of Google Chrome. It's evident that some have installed Chrome without reading the fine print and without examining all the issues (and there are many) and only "then" have they come to realize that they didn't particularly care for it. My response is: do whatever you like but don't call me Or those like me, paranoid or unreasonable because I happen to take a cautious approach. In fact, it is the cautious approach that is encouraged by those who know far more about computers and computer software than many of us. My current computer is brand new and it is my only computer. Why on earth would I chance putting beta software like Google Chrome on my computer when I'm perfectly satisfied with my current browser? I'm not a test guinea pig for Google and I don't need to see what the latest kid (software) on the block can do.

And now that I've read the fine print and seen the issues that others are having in attempts to uninstall it, I'm very happy I was cautious about it.

 

I, fully, concur. It is a pain,and, I don't know if I removed everything.
First, a Search of my computer turned out nothing more than shortcuts, and startup. I was not aware that Chrome was always on, till I tried to uninstall the program. I was able to uninstall it after deleting chrome.exe in the Windows Task Manager. I did a cleanup with Ccleaner, and it turned out very little. However, when I looked in the unexpected install location, i.e.
"C:\Documents and Settings\user_namei\Local Settings\Application Data\Google\Chrome\Application ". I found a lot of junk in the Temp folder, including a 60+ MB folder of User data. I deleted, by hand, one file at a time, but four could not be deleted. I had not rebooted my computer, so, they may not be associated with Google Chrome, but I like to control my own computer.
So, I removed Google Chrome, not because it is beta, but because it is offensive to me.

Note:the remaining files were gone after rebooting.I don't see any evidence of GC after a third, thorough sweep.

 

When you install Chrome it also installs a GoogleUpdater program. There is no indication in the "Add/Remove" programs that it is there. If you check in the task manager and it is running, even after you uninstall Chrome then it is still there. It also puts itself in the Windows/Prefetch so it might reinstall itself after you delete it. GoogleUpdater also sets itself up in the Mozilla entries in the registry so that when you uninstall Chrome it continues to trace you when you use Mozilla. I used a couple of "Fully Uninstall Any Program" programs after I uninstalled Chrome and they found nothing and deleted nothing concerning GoogleUpdater. I manually went around and uninstalled everything and deleted references in the registry so I think I got it all.

I also use Acronis True Image and run a complete disk backup on the 1st, 10th, and 20th of each month. I'm running some checks and I just might go back to one of those and just copy over all the data folders, etc. But, for now, I think i got it all.

If you uninstalled Chrome and ran some uninstaller programs then all that other stuff from the Chrome install is probably still there and tracking you and your accounts.

Giles

 

I had the Google Updater before trying the browser. It is used for Google Earth, as well.
This seems to be a trend, like Apple, which uses the same updater for iTunes, quicktime, and Safari. They, just as sneaky, trying to foist everything on you, if you are not careful, but Google is, downright scary.

 

"Google is downright scary ". I'll buy that -- big time! I checked my registry searching just for "google" and you'd be surprised at how often it turned up. Found only one entry "Yahoo bar ". Backed up the registry and deleted all of them. Next, did HighJachThis and found one Yahoo toolbar entry and promptly ditched that. Now have a clean registry . . . reduced the size of the registry by around 69 KB or so. That's a heck of a lotta crud for the registry!!!

All working fine, but with a somewhat smaller registry. Google and Yahoo are going to have to go a long time before I'll trust 'em with anything!!!

Thanks for the heads up guys.
Bob

 

And, FYI, I reinstalled Google Chrome, and, promptly uninstalled, so that I could send a feedback.