Chrome Works Only in Safe Mode

patlaw · 16 Aug 2014

When I first got this computer, Chrome worked fine, but it was burdened with a lot of malware. It did not have viruses or rootkits. I cleaned it up using AdwCleaner, RogueKiller, TDSSKiller, and MalwareBytes. A lot of malware was found, but nothing particularly ugly.

Now the computer (Win 7 Home 64-bit) runs pretty well, but Chrome will only work in Safe Mode. It will start in normal mode, but it will not go to a website, and it will not even open its own chrome://plugins section. Uninstalling and reinstalling Chrome didn't make any difference

The computer originally had Avast on it. I completely uninstalled it. I also ran the AVG, Avast, and McAfee removal tools. Chrome still doesn't work.

I tried the Selective clean boot procedure described here. Chrome will not start. (I have not done the Startup with nothing selected, but that could take hours.)

I'm stuck. I don't know what else to do. If someone sees anything I've overlooked, I'd appreciate your help. The owner can use IE, but I hate to tell him that Chrome doesn't work anymore. It makes me look stupid.

The computer is an HP G72. Starting in the Incognito mode doesn't work, either. Chrome starts, but it doesn't do anything.

UPDATE: If I create a new user account, Chrome works fine. There must be something corrupt in the Windows user profile. Suggestions?

patlaw · 16 Aug 2014

For anyone who is looking here for the same problem, I solved it by uninstalling Chrome with Revo Unistaller and then cleaning everything up with CCleaner.

One other thing I did that may not have made any difference was I reinstalled Chrome for all users with a local (admin) file from a second user account with Admin privileges. When I switched back to the regular account, everything worked fine.