Google desktop recreates registry key on delete

Hello all

This is my first post. I had Google desktop installed a while ago. Then I uninstalled it.

Recently Spybot monitor gave me this message:
Category: Startup file does not exist
Location: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run\Google Desktop Search
Filename: C:\Program Files\Google\Google Desktop Search\GoogleDesktop.exe

Now I am sure this program is uninstalled. So I tried to manually delete the registry key. But almost immediately I got a warning from Startup monitor that googledesktop is registering to run at startup !!

I got back and look at the registry key and it has been recreated. If I try to deny the change in startup monitor, it keeps on trying to register the key till no end !

Please help.

Thanks

 

>> Google desktop recreates registry key on delete [ after uninstallation ] chaanakya <<

Hi chaanakya... Welcome to Major Geeks! Have you tried running the freeware utility called CCleaner?

It is especially helpful for anyone who installs, reinstalls or removes programs occasionally or on a regular basis; and has any problems with "leftovers" after the uninstall procedure. It has several options like removing registry entries that go nowhere and works wonders removing other various program 'leftovers' that are 'dead' or obsolete, or aren't listed in Add/Remove after you attempt to uninstall programs and utilities.

If you do not already have CCleaner on your system; you can download it for FREE right here at Major Geeks. If you haven't already installed it; you should definitely give it a try. It is very easy to use.

Click here for a Quick Tutorial/Tour regarding how to use CCleaner after it is installed...

Use the CLEANER and ISSUES options to thoroughly clean out anything that Google desktop may have left behind after you uninstalled it.

Important Note: If you have never used CCleaner before; you should be made aware of the fact that when you first attempt to install CCleaner; it offers the "option" of installing Yahoo Search Toolbar. However, you may either choose to have it installed or not - by simply unchecking [or checking] that option during the installation process.

Good Luck!

 

Thanks Compuable. Appreciate the help. I am going to try CCleaner tonight. Although I am a bit surprized that google would make such a crappy uninstaller

 

>> Thanks Compuable. Appreciate the help. I am going to try CCleaner tonight. Although I am a bit surprized that google would make such a crappy uninstaller << chaanakya

Oh, anytime chaanakya... My pleasure really!

I'm not surprised at all that this Google Desktop application left something on your computer after you uninstalled it. This product may be convenient for some, but it's "benefits" are overrated in my opinion. Additionally, I do not find any of their freebie apps to be useful enough - and this one in particular - to trade in my data's security for. Like most people I have found their online search engine to be very useful...

However, I believe some of their "downloadable" products - although free - leave much to be desired in my opinion; particularly in the area of compromising your personal or business computer's security. For instance; the Google Desktop has an additional 'optional' feature called "Search Across Computers" which stores copies of the user's Word documents, PDFs, Excel spreadsheets and other types of 'text-based' documents on Google's own servers, to enable searching from any one of the user's computers.

Basically, this means that unless you configure Google Desktop very carefully; Google will have copies of your business receipts, and financial records and medical records, tax returns and whatever other text-based documents the Google Desktop can index. It does so by storing an identical copy of your indexed files on their servers!

The "Search Across Computers" feature is turned off by default - the user has to enable it. However once you enable that feature and the Google Desktop "indexing" is completed - every single text-based document that this application finds - Google gets to keep [for who knows how long] on its servers. It doesn't matter whether you use the application all the time; or you install it and then never even search for a single document.

Do users really want to trust Google to keep a copy of ALL their indexed files? Just so they can save a few seconds when they occasionally need to search for their documents? While it may seem to be convenient to be able to search your PC from any location, it also represents a totally unnecessary and "unguarded" compromise of an incredible amount of your digital documents.

The HUGE security risks that come with using Google Desktop; in addition to the fact that Google will be storing information centrally of what files you have on your computer - I have to advise against using this application. This application is not freeware it is "Information-Repository-Ware."

Good Luck!

 

CCleaner is an awesom program but it did not solve the problem. The registry key immediately put itself back. I tried startup monitor to prevent it from registering but unless I click YES, a window keeps popping asking me if i want to accept the registry change.

It seems to me that there is some service which is watching for this registry change and not allowing me to delete the google desktop registry key.

Need help.