This is a report on Google Desktop search, which I had installed in late spring of this year. It seemed like a handy addition to my Google search capabilities.
My machine (built in early 2006) has lots of resources - 2 GB RAM, 2+ terabytes of HD space, and a dual core AMD processor. But Google search seems to have the potential to really mess up one's system. This will document the problems that it created for me, and also I have asked several questions at the end.
Following the original install, I seemed to be seeing more "error" message boxes, both while I was working, and during the course of shutdown. None of these error messages seemed "catastrophic", and did not really seem to cause any visible problems. They were often related to various memory addresses. And some just flashed by in a fraction of a second during shutdown, not allowing me to even note the title of the box.
I also noted a strange situation in my Task Manager. Normally when I bring it up, and view the performance tab, it will momentarily spike. and then settle down to the baseline, bouncing around 1-4% of CPU usage. But it seemed very high in recent times, never getting below 50-60%. Initially I attributed this to the new versions of several security programs, that I assumed were doing constant scanning et al. But I felt uneasy about this.
A few days ago, my system crashed hard. An error message box came up noting "%systemroot%\system32\dumprep 0 -k", and this message displayed for a few seconds. Then a BSOD appeared, but closed before I could read it, and my system rebooted. After rebooting, a few minutes later, the same thing occurred again. So, during the next reboot process, I went into my choices, and configured things such that I stopped the auto reboot, to allow time to read the screen. I rebooted, and shortly later, when another crash occurred, I read the message. In essence, it stated that a "serious error" had occurred. And, it suggested that I review recent hardware and software additions. I had no recent hardware additions, so I decided to look into the
So, after a reboot, I decided to take a look at the processes et al that were loading at startup and running after bootup, and monitor the Task Manager to see what was responsible for all that CPU activity. I use WinPatrol, as it offers more flexibility than MSConfig. Shutting down the various security application, one by one, didn't change anything.
But, when I shut down Google Desktop Search, the CPU activity dropped back down to the baseline, and looked normal in the Task Manager. I then totally disabled Google Desktop Search, and rebooted. All the other (security) items I had shut down came back on, as they were still in the startup listing. But Google Desktop Search had been permanently stopped from loading.
The bootup went normally, the Task Manager showed a normal/proper CPU activity, and all seemed well. Since that time, I've booted up several dozen times, and have seen zero error messages of any kind, no crashes, and all seems to be running properly. So, my solution to the problem seems correct, and Google Desktop Search will never ever be activated again.
It could not be coincidence that the problems all disappeared when the Desktop Search was killed from running.
SOME QUESTIONS
1. Have any of you experienced a similar problem?
2. It's hard to believe that my system, which is certainly up there in capabilities, power, and resources would suffer the problems it did. Can the software really be that problemsome? When I installed it, I accepted all of the recommended defaults et al. What happened?
3. When I removed it from the active items, I had assumed that it was still installed, but just inactivated. The program folder is still there at C:\Program Files\Google\Google Desktop Search. But the only listing I can find in the Add/Remove programs list is Google Desktop. Is this the search program? It does not seem to be. So, where is it located, and how do I totally remove all traces of it from my system.
4. I want to permanently delete it. I'd also like to delete the cache that Google has stored somewhere, with all the info it use when searching my desktop.
CONCLUSION
I, like many others have put Google on a pedestal. But after this fiasco, they're being taken off that pedestal. Also, when I updated to the latest version of SpyBot Search & Destroy, it has now defined all calls to DoubleClick, which Google now owns, as spyware, bringing up a small info box, to allow rejection of the calls to DoubleClick. DoubleClick has been written about often, in recent times, and with negative implications.
Every Google search I do brings up the SpyBot message box, asking for my permission or denial of allowing the link to DoubleClick. I deny it. So Google, I'm afraid you've been categorized differently by me now. You have some great services, but you also have some others that aren't what they should be.
My machine (built in early 2006) has lots of resources - 2 GB RAM, 2+ terabytes of HD space, and a dual core AMD processor. But Google search seems to have the potential to really mess up one's system. This will document the problems that it created for me, and also I have asked several questions at the end.
Following the original install, I seemed to be seeing more "error" message boxes, both while I was working, and during the course of shutdown. None of these error messages seemed "catastrophic", and did not really seem to cause any visible problems. They were often related to various memory addresses. And some just flashed by in a fraction of a second during shutdown, not allowing me to even note the title of the box.
I also noted a strange situation in my Task Manager. Normally when I bring it up, and view the performance tab, it will momentarily spike. and then settle down to the baseline, bouncing around 1-4% of CPU usage. But it seemed very high in recent times, never getting below 50-60%. Initially I attributed this to the new versions of several security programs, that I assumed were doing constant scanning et al. But I felt uneasy about this.
A few days ago, my system crashed hard. An error message box came up noting "%systemroot%\system32\dumprep 0 -k", and this message displayed for a few seconds. Then a BSOD appeared, but closed before I could read it, and my system rebooted. After rebooting, a few minutes later, the same thing occurred again. So, during the next reboot process, I went into my choices, and configured things such that I stopped the auto reboot, to allow time to read the screen. I rebooted, and shortly later, when another crash occurred, I read the message. In essence, it stated that a "serious error" had occurred. And, it suggested that I review recent hardware and software additions. I had no recent hardware additions, so I decided to look into the
So, after a reboot, I decided to take a look at the processes et al that were loading at startup and running after bootup, and monitor the Task Manager to see what was responsible for all that CPU activity. I use WinPatrol, as it offers more flexibility than MSConfig. Shutting down the various security application, one by one, didn't change anything.
But, when I shut down Google Desktop Search, the CPU activity dropped back down to the baseline, and looked normal in the Task Manager. I then totally disabled Google Desktop Search, and rebooted. All the other (security) items I had shut down came back on, as they were still in the startup listing. But Google Desktop Search had been permanently stopped from loading.
The bootup went normally, the Task Manager showed a normal/proper CPU activity, and all seemed well. Since that time, I've booted up several dozen times, and have seen zero error messages of any kind, no crashes, and all seems to be running properly. So, my solution to the problem seems correct, and Google Desktop Search will never ever be activated again.
It could not be coincidence that the problems all disappeared when the Desktop Search was killed from running.
SOME QUESTIONS
1. Have any of you experienced a similar problem?
2. It's hard to believe that my system, which is certainly up there in capabilities, power, and resources would suffer the problems it did. Can the software really be that problemsome? When I installed it, I accepted all of the recommended defaults et al. What happened?
3. When I removed it from the active items, I had assumed that it was still installed, but just inactivated. The program folder is still there at C:\Program Files\Google\Google Desktop Search. But the only listing I can find in the Add/Remove programs list is Google Desktop. Is this the search program? It does not seem to be. So, where is it located, and how do I totally remove all traces of it from my system.
4. I want to permanently delete it. I'd also like to delete the cache that Google has stored somewhere, with all the info it use when searching my desktop.
CONCLUSION
I, like many others have put Google on a pedestal. But after this fiasco, they're being taken off that pedestal. Also, when I updated to the latest version of SpyBot Search & Destroy, it has now defined all calls to DoubleClick, which Google now owns, as spyware, bringing up a small info box, to allow rejection of the calls to DoubleClick. DoubleClick has been written about often, in recent times, and with negative implications.
Every Google search I do brings up the SpyBot message box, asking for my permission or denial of allowing the link to DoubleClick. I deny it. So Google, I'm afraid you've been categorized differently by me now. You have some great services, but you also have some others that aren't what they should be.
![[medal]](/data/assets/smilies/medal.gif "[medal] [medal]")