Has Google hijacked my PC?

Katykat

an odd thing has happened today. I turned my PC on and the browser looked slightly different and there was an icon on my desktop for Google Chrome. I didn't download this, but I have had my PC at my friends house today and used her BT wireless connection. I didn't particulrly want Chrome, so I uninstalled it and now, none of my desktop icons work ( a box says "application not found"). I've opened some of my favourite sites and created another shortcut onto my desktop, but it still wont open them directly from my desktop. It seems that by uninstalling Chrome, I've disabled desktop access. Does this mean that I will have to install Chrome even if i dont want it? Or is there a way I can fix it.? Its not that I have issues with Chrome, just that I dont like being dictated to machine.

closed

Assuming by desktop icons, you mean links to the internet or html files, try resetting IE to defaults under tools, internet options, advanced

RussJK

It would appear that Google Chrome has taken over the file associations for links. Since you uninstalled Chrome, when you run a shortcut to a website, Windows is trying to load Google Chrome to do it.

What browser do you use? How exactly is it different? What version of Windows do you use?

You basically just need to make your preferred browser the default browser again for the computer. I've no idea why Chrome installed itself.

M4RKM

I personally prefer chrome over other browsers, but chrome definitely didn't magically appear, and it didn't Hijack your computer. What I'd personally do, is load up internet explorer, and it should say - I am not your default browser - blah blah, and then you can make it default, and your desktop shortcuts should work again.

However, I'd encourage you to reinstall chrome, and try it as a browser. It is much faster than IE and a really nice browser, simple, and not as memory hungry as say FireFox.

M

spud17

OP what anti-virus do you use?

IIRC about a year back Chrome was being bundled with Avast, has it started doing it again?
A workmate had Avast set to do definition and program updates automatically (not defaults), PC on 24/7, came home to find Chrome installed.

Katykat

Thanks everyone, I reset IE and its all working again fine. I'll have a go at using Chrome sometime.