topic Re: Google Chrome problem in Tech Help - Software/Hardware etc

Google Chrome problem

penneck — Tue, 19 Jul 2022 07:51:08 GMT

My pc has developed a strange problem when I try to use Google Chrome. I am still using Win 7 - that may clarify the next sentence a bit.

I click on the Chrome icon on the line across the bottom of the screen, and Google Chrome opens, but the main section (the lowest 70%) of the screen goes black, and stays that way. The top 30% shows the normal part of what you would see in that part of Google Chrome. Along the top line of this, just to the right of the first tab (which says New Tab), there is a '+' which you would click on to add another tab. If I click on that '+', a new tab opens, and that view shows the full Google Chrome view, and it works perfectly. I can then close the first tab, and the second tab still works perfectly.

Therefore, I have a get-around, but having this problem in the first place is irritating. Does anyone have a solution, please?

Thanks for any help

Re: Google Chrome problem

Smith7 — Tue, 19 Jul 2022 09:00:34 GMT

Good morning,

Have you tried "Clearing Browsing Data" clears cookies etc as Google Chrome does not do it automatically as far as I can see

Click on the three vertical dots in the far right hand corner

Scroll down to more tools

Click on Clear Browsing Data

If you click advanced just tick the top four

If you have never done it you will have quite a lot in Browsing History and Cookies

Re: Google Chrome problem

penneck — Tue, 19 Jul 2022 12:32:09 GMT

Hello @Smith7 , unfortunately, that hasn't solved the problem, but it has given me a few problems that I had solved a few months ago, and now I have to rediscover those 'cures'. However, it was worth the try, so I thank you for your suggestion.

Incidentally, in case it causes anyone reading my first post in this topic to misunderstand the problem, I was a bit wrong with my percentages - 70% should be 90%, and 30% should be 10%. Basically it is the main section of the Chrome window that is black

Regards

Re: Google Chrome problem

RobPN — Tue, 19 Jul 2022 13:07:06 GMT

@penneck

Clutching at straws maybe, but I'm wondering if it's being caused by displaying a 'dodgy' start-up page, i.e. whatever Chrome is set to display when you first start it.

It might be worth checking your settings to see what is selected; > three dots previously mentioned > Settings > On start-up

Re: Google Chrome problem

Baldrick1 — Tue, 19 Jul 2022 13:51:19 GMT

@penneck

Have you tried deleting Chrome and reinstalling it?

Re: Google Chrome problem

penneck — Tue, 19 Jul 2022 14:00:13 GMT

Hello @RobPN . Have looked at 3dots/Settings/OnStart-up - and it is set to "Open New Tab page". I assume that is correct, considering the other two choices are (1) Continue where you left off, and (2) Open a specific page or set of pages

Re: Google Chrome problem

penneck — Tue, 19 Jul 2022 14:07:27 GMT

Hello @Baldrick1 . I am reluctant to delete and reinstall Chrome because of the number of shortcuts I have (had them for a long time so problem not caused by a new one), though one of them is not opening in exactly the way it used to. I am having problems recovering that one because the setup for it was part of what I was sent (a few years ago, but I still use this shortcut occasionally)

Re: Google Chrome problem

RPMozley — Tue, 19 Jul 2022 14:07:37 GMT

Try setting it to open the specific page “chrome://newtab”
See what happens that way.

Re: Google Chrome problem

penneck — Tue, 19 Jul 2022 14:25:09 GMT

Hello @RPMozley If I open Chrome and get the black main Google section, and I then open a second New Tab by using the '+', the second New Tab shows the Google stuff. Therefore, I have two tabs both saying New Tab, and if I hold the cursor on those tabs, at this point they both then show "chrome://newtab". The difference between them is, when the first tab is showing "chrome://newtab", it shows a largish area with a sort of diagram of the world as a globe with North and South America and North Western part of Africa visible. When the second tab is showing "chrome://newtab", it shows a similar largish area but with a small version of the Google view.

Is there a way that I can edit "chrome://newtab" (in case there is a hidden character or something), and where do I find it to do the edit?

Re: Google Chrome problem

Dan_the_Van — Tue, 19 Jul 2022 15:20:24 GMT

@penneck

you could try this chrome://settings/reset

Have you by chance changed the zoom level for the opening tab? Edit: Not sure about this theory but it's worth checking

Re: Google Chrome problem

Baldrick1 — Tue, 19 Jul 2022 15:58:20 GMT

Would a Chrome reset delete all the links that @penneck wants to retain?

Another possible option:

Install a different browser such as Firefox and use the bookmarks transfer option to copy them across. You could back up the computer first in case things got lost. Then either use Firefox or delete brome, reinstall Chrome and copy them back.

I have a totally different approach to computer maintenance, I have all the system files (Windows and Applications) on one disk drive and data on another. Every few years I use Belarc Advisor to extract a list of installed programs and their licence numbers, then delete and reformat the system disk and do a fresh clean install of the stuff that I still use. It’s a bit of a pain but it gets rid of all the dross.

Re: Google Chrome problem

Dan_the_Van — Tue, 19 Jul 2022 16:14:03 GMT

Would a Chrome reset delete all the links that @penneck wants to retain?

Did you check yourself or are you trying to be difficult again with one of my posts?

Here's your answer https://support.google.com/chrome/answer/3296214?hl=en

Re: Google Chrome problem

RPMozley — Tue, 19 Jul 2022 18:04:06 GMT

@penneck There were some chrome extensions that modify the new tab page, not checked recently if they’re still available. I’ve used ‘clear new tab’ (not sure if that’s the correct name of it or if the words are in a different order) so that I could see the background image I’ve set without ‘things’ getting in the way.

Another way to try is have a local image open upon startup of chrome.

Re: Google Chrome problem

penneck — Tue, 19 Jul 2022 19:54:58 GMT

@RPMozley , @Dan_the_Van , & @Baldrick1 . What I have done is I have Microsoft Edge on my pc (don't remember why I installed it when Chrome seemed to work so well - at that time), so I have transferred my Bookmarks (is that the correct Chrome name for what I call shortcuts?) to Edge Favourites, then uninstalled Chrome. Having uninstalled it, I then reinstalled it - BUT - why does it have all my shortcuts in the reinstalled Chrome? I haven't transferred them back from Edge. Also the Chrome black problem is still there. Does my pc have a memory of what was there earlier, and I am being shown that rather than the new version?

Re: Google Chrome problem

bmc — Tue, 19 Jul 2022 20:57:30 GMT

@penneck

I've not checked, but does Chrome has the option to Export all Bookmarks & Cookies to a text file. IE can (I used it frequently in days of old).

However before doing so I Deleted all Cookies I didn't want - I used CCleaner to "allow" all cookies I wanted to keep and then ran the cleaner. Then I exported my settings.

Secondly, did you re-boot before re-installing Chrome?

Brian

Re: Google Chrome problem

RPMozley — Wed, 20 Jul 2022 03:32:39 GMT

On windows uninstalling a program usually does not delete user data.

If a reinstall still shows the black page issue then we can rule out it is an application fault. So that just leaves something in your chrome user data that's doing it.

Please try out one of my earlier suggestions.

P.S. still too hot to sleep tonight, hence why I'm replying now!

Re: Google Chrome problem

Dan_the_Van — Wed, 20 Jul 2022 07:29:01 GMT

A few thoughts regarding settings

Is google sync enabled?

Check the 'On Start-up', how is this set? If it is Open the New Tab page, try something else.

Have you checked extensions for any rouge ones? Try turning some of them off.

Re: Google Chrome problem

penneck — Wed, 20 Jul 2022 07:40:02 GMT

Morning @Dan_the_Van .

Google sync is enabled, and 'On Start-up' is set to 'Open the New Tab page'.

I don't understand your question "Have you checked extensions for any rouge ones?" Apart from 'rouge' which may be a typo, where do I find these extensions to switch then off (and hopefully on again, just in case

An update - I have uninstalled Chrome again, rebooted (power off then on, not just Reboot), and reinstalled Chrome. That got rid of the Bookmarks, so I transferred them back from MS Edge. I still get the Black section.

Maybe this isn't the place to say so, but I have tried contacting the Chrome Community about this problem, but I cannot be sure they have even received my message - I cannot find my message on their website. My experience is the Plusnet User Forum is much easier to use, and better at supporting numpties like me. My thanks to all forum members for that

Re: Google Chrome problem

penneck — Wed, 20 Jul 2022 07:44:16 GMT

Morning @RPMozley

Have tried all (at least I think it is all) suggestions so far. No success unfortunately. Hopefully you can get some sleep soon

Re: Google Chrome problem

Dan_the_Van — Wed, 20 Jul 2022 07:58:04 GMT

Sorry, it's typo, rogue!

In setting's towards the bottom you will find extensions. Do you have any?

Try changing on start-up to "Open a specific page or set of pages" put a site of your choice.