Alternate (offline) Google Chrome installer (Windows)

[UsernameIssues]

The topic of this thread is the same as the title of this Google support website...
https://support.google.com/installer/answer/126299
...because that is what I want to talk about - sort of.

I looked inside of the EXE files that you get via various URLs found around the Interent.



It is not too hard to figure out that what you get - depends on what you ask for via the URL. In the URLs below, some options/switches are not needed. The has server defaults. I included the options for my own clarity and those server defaults might change.

These are for 64bit standalone (offline) installers:

Single user. Installs into the user's AppData folder. Does not require admin rights.

https://www.google.com/chrome/browser/desktop/index.html?system=false&standalone=1&platform=win64

All users. Installs into the Program Files (x86) folder. Requires admin rights.

https://www.google.com/chrome/browser/desktop/index.html?system=true&standalone=1&platform=win64

This is one that I have yet to see anyone document...

https://www.google.com/chrome/browser/desktop/index.html?system=prefers&standalone=1&platform=win64

...but you can get this by omitting the "system=" part of the URL.

The EXE from that 3rd link will let you pick the type of install*. Answering No to the UAC prompt will get you another prompt from the installer. Answering Yes to that installer prompt will get you the same results as the EXE from link #1. Answering No to the UAC prompt will get you the same results as the EXE from link #2.

*Assumes User Account Contro (UAC) is on.

That is the main question/point of this post: Does anyone know of a URL option (or a switch that can be used when launching the installer) that will install Chrome 64bit into the Program Files folder?

I might be able to get Chrome to go into the desired folder using an MSI file, but several forum posts indicate issues with .NET 4.



Not really a part of my question, but I'll ramble on a bit.

For 32bit installers, use...

platform=win

...or omit the option. (But someday, the default might change to 64bit.)

I happen to be using the offline installer on multiple computers. The user does not have admin rights and Chrome is not the default browser. If you select Chrome as the default browser during the download process, then you might get two UAC prompts during the installation. The first determines where/how Chrome is to be installed (link #1 or link #2). The second UAC prompt is used to set Chrome as the default browser. You don't actually need admin rights to do that, but Chrome does some odd stuff at the same time.

 

[harvey263]

You didn't specify why you want it in the Program Files directory instead of (x86), I assume there is something else contingent on it?

I have used the 'Chrome for work' msi installer for silent deployments and it works fine. If UAC prompts are a concern this is a way around that. But I'm not aware of any switches that allow changing the install directory.

You can always go ghetto and just copy/paste the installed files. The browser works but it can't be updated. I think that everything like bookmarks, history, etc. works in AppData; so in theory you could keep the browser updated by overwriting just the application files as needed.

If you like the sound of that, drill further down in the directory:
C:\Program Files (x86)\Google\Chrome\Application\45.0.2454.99\Installer\chrome.7z
The application files inside "chrome.7z" are only 181MB vs 371MB in the original "Application" directory. This might be useful as a portable/temporary Chrome anyway.

 

[UsernameIssues]

Just for organization.

While there is no rule that says 64bit apps must be in a certain folder, given the choice, I would stick with the norm.

 

[thelma]

Now see, this interests ( although I don't understand it completly ) me because of a completly different matter with Google Chrome.

I like it and always use it as my browser, but one thing drives me !!!!!

Explain ;

I am Dutch, have bought this laptop in England and at that time I lived in France. Now already 3 years I live in Austria, a German speaking country.

For some weird reason my Google chrome keeps changing back to the French language !?!?

Therefore I have installed and deleted various different Google Chrome's, but this problem keeps re-occurring.
If I would try to download that Alternate (offline) Google Chrome installer (Windows) perhaps this stupid problem would be fixed ?

 

[thelma]

Now see, this interests ( although I don't understand it completely ) me because of a complete different matter with Google Chrome.

I like it and always use it as my browser, but one thing drives me !!!!!

Explain ;

I am Dutch, have bought this laptop in England and at that time I lived in France. Now already 3 years I live in Austria, a German speaking country.

For some weird reason my Google chrome keeps changing back to the French language !?!?

Therefore I have installed and deleted various different Google Chrome's, but this problem keeps re-occurring.
If I would try to download that Alternate (offline) Google Chrome installer (Windows) perhaps this stupid problem would be fixed ?