How to Move Google Chrome to Specific Location ???

Hello Members:

I just installed Google Chrome to WIN 10 Home.

• Chrome installed to a default location:
  C:\Program Files (x86)/Google/Chrome/Application/chrome.exe
  ​No Destination Folder option was provided during install setup.

• I prefer to MOVE Chrome to this location:
  F:/Web Apps/Chrome

Is this doable?

Thanks much in advance for clear and detailed explanation upfront.

~ Alan


MicroCenter PowerSpec 1510 notebook
Intel® Core i7-7700HQ
G.SKill RAM 16GB DDR4 2400
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070
Disk-1: Samsung 960 EVO 250GB NVMe M.2 SSD
Disk-2: WD Black 7200 RPM 1TB

I just found this (1) other thread: Windows 10: How to change install location for program such as Google Chrome? ... where MOD states:

camxza2 said:

Unfortunately Google Chrome doesn't allow custom installation and attaches right to the OS drive

TrustMe wrote:

TrustMe said:

Try downloading Google Chrome offline installer. That might let you do a custom install.

Install Chrome offline on Windows - Chrome Help
or
Official Link to Download Google Chrome Full Standalone Offline Installer - AskVG

It appears that no one has yet confirmed if the Google Chrome offline installer provides for a custom install.

I have also reviewed some (5) other tenforums threads regarding Win 10 custom installs... none of which provided confirmed solutions to this issue.


I have now installed only (2) apps on my new Win 10 notebook... Chrome and Webroot. Win 10 automatically installed both to the C:\ OS partition. Win 10 UNINSTALL/MOVE will not move these apps to another disk location... in fact no MOVE button is provided... and aside from an UNINSTALL button... a MODIFY button is grayed-out.


In searching Google... I found an article that discusses MOVE options:

3 Ways To Move Installed Programs To Another Location In Windows 10 |
* Steam Mover | Freeware |
* Application Mover

From my understanding... one must install 1st to a default Win 10 OS location... and then move the install to a desired disk location using one of the above applications.


QUESTIONS;

• Is Win 10 really this OBTUSE in regards to app custom installations?
• How can one competently perform custom installs within the Win 10 Home environment?

Thank you in advance for some prompt solutions to this issue.

~ Alan


MicroCenter PowerSpec 1510 notebook
Intel® Core i7-7700HQ
G.SKill RAM 16GB DDR4 2400
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070
Disk-1: Samsung 960 EVO 250GB NVMe M.2 SSD
Disk-2: WD Black 7200 RPM 1TB

The ability to install an application to a variable User defined location is the responsibility of the developer - In this case Google. This is the way it has always been. Many installers still provide an option to load to other than the Program Files ( or Program Files (x86) ), folders. Google already at one time not follow correct procedure by installing elsewhere (in the user area AppData?)

The only thing that Microsoft could do is to tighten up the placement rules for all programs , but this is unlikely as it would hit Microsoft itself, and there are some utility programs that have to be located in specific places to operate.

If you wish to / Have to locate programs in specific locations take a look at portable versions of the apps, PortableApps.com - Portable software for USB, portable, and cloud drives, Is a good starting point. They do development of major app versions with portability options, they do Browsers but not sure if Chrome is included. Google may itself have a portable version of a Chrome based browser but I am not aware of it

Just had a look on your behalf ...

Google Chrome Portable | PortableApps.com - Portable software for USB, portable and cloud drives

I've not heard of any changes, Of course I use Windows 10 Pro or above exclusively, and I let applications install in their default locations, (except for a set of system tools that are all fully portable)

This issue you have noted could be a change made on the Home version of Windows 10, which would not be a total surprise, as the Home version is designed to be used by those who wish to do as little maintenance as possible ( the Phone Generation ). It could also be something instigated by Google on Home, (Or all OS versions), for their own reasons - They do give options to move the Browser manually so that is still a possibility although not as elegant as a proper setup option

Howdy, Barman58 (Nigel):

Appreciate.


I am amazed that custom installation option has been removed from Win 10...
and I have to spend hours figuring out a procedure which is easy-peasy in Win 7.

Frustrating and unexpected.

I'm still searching... will contact Webroot, CCleaner, etc. tech support today.

THX. ~ Alan



MicroCenter PowerSpec 1510 notebook
Intel® Core i7-7700HQ
G.SKill RAM 16GB DDR4 2400
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070
Disk-1: Samsung 960 EVO 250GB NVMe M.2 SSD
Disk-2: WD Black 7200 RPM 1TB

The option has not been removed from Windows 10 per se, I have installed applications onto Windows 10 machines that still give the option to relocate the install to an alternate location.

I actually installed Libreoffice yesterday to a system running Windows 10 SCU 1803 17133.73 which is the latest revision (Pro not Home which may be relevant )

Edit Also just reinstalled Winaero Tweaker and it showed the same option



It would be interesting to see if an install attempt on a Home install also gave the location selection option

The issue here is that for some reason the installer for some applications will not work as it used to, whether this is due to conscious decision of the application developer to remove the option from it's installer to improve performance, or it's some change in the Windows 10 system that has not been accounted for by the developer of the application. The Repair/Move options in some uninstallers is also something written in by the developer and could be missing now due to the general "Dumbing Down" of software these days to appeal more to the non technical user

A lot of third party developers use "Tricks" to improve performance or usability, that are not in the Development Guidelines provided to developers in the SDK (Software Development Kit). Using these tricks often causes issues when Microsoft changes things,

for Example If you use the set out procedures in the SDK, (EG. the use of variables), then Changes by Microsoft in item locations will be accounted for and the system will behave properly, If however the developer "hard codes" the locations into their application code the application fails. This failure can show as a catastrophic failure of the whole application (as was the case when installing many Games on Vista which were hard coded for XP to improve response times), or the failure to access a standard sub module (such as a windows selection box).

All this is pure speculation on my part in this instance but hopefully you can achieve what you require by one of the possible options available.

Webroot is the one I would worry about As security systems are designed to throw exceptions when moved or installed in the "wrong place" - a lot of today's malware impersonates a genuine executable but runs from a location other than it's default.

Howdy, Nigel:

Appreciate your follow-up.

I have now posted this issue to the following:

• Tenforums
• BleepingComputer
• CCleaner
• Webroot
• Minitool

I will also call Microsoft Support Tech Support (800-642-7676) when they open MT time.

I hope to resolve this issue today because...
I will not accept default C:\ OS installs.

If this is a Win 10 HOME issue... then this is a tangible reason for me to upgrade to Win 10 PRO.

THX! ~ Alan


P.S. I have experienced NO issues with Webroot on my Win 7 notebook.