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Google Chrome Portable

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salclem2
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Google Chrome Portable

Hello,

I want to make Google Chrome really Portable (there is a known issue) by adding the moving files action in the launcher INI, i.e.

[DirectoriesMove]
profile="%userprofile%\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data"

but if the copying process is very long, is there a way to inform the users with a wait message?

Thanks

John T. Haller
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No Known Issue

There is no known issue related to that directory. All known issues are printed on the Google Chrome Portable homepage. Source: I maintain the app.

If there is an issue, please detail it here.

Sometimes, the impossible can become possible, if you're awesome!

salclem2
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profile directory

I have downloaded the official packet named GoogleChromePortable_40.0.2214.111_online.paf.exe, and when I have used it in more pc, happen that the Data\profile directory remains empty, then the portable program is working only in the first pc I have used.

Do this is a bug?

I must tell what I have found trying to launch chrome.exe of Google Chrome by using the parameter --user-data-dir="...", i.e. it does not work, the parameter is passed over; instead used launching chrome.exe of Chromium it works very well. Why? Do it is a singular fact?

For this reason I am trying to fix my problem.
Thanks

John T. Haller
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More Details

I'll need some more details. Such as if you are running this on a locked down corporate/university PC. What OS. What the path is. How you're launching it (should be via GoogleChromePortable.exe directly).

Note that --user-data-dir can be overridden on the local PC with specific registry keys set. Often in a corporate/university scenario. Specifically, if the registry key Software\Policies\Chromium\UserDataDir is set in HKLM, it will use that regardless of what you pass in.

Sometimes, the impossible can become possible, if you're awesome!

salclem2
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Re: More Details

I am using Windows 7 at 32 or 64-bit. I had tried to launch Google Chrome with chrome.exe via command prompt, and I had tried it in more pc, locked down also (i.e. athenaeum), but in my private pc the issue happens too.

By searching in the registry in fact I found the key HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Google\Chrome with the UserDataDir forced to "C:\Users\myuser\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data".
By deleting that policy now works all.

Anyway I don't understand how is possible this fact. Who or which software could do this? Do is a mystery or you know?

Thank you very much

John T. Haller
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Admin

Only an administrator can do that. Many corporations and organizations will set it to prevent end users from running their own user-space copies.

Sometimes, the impossible can become possible, if you're awesome!

Gord Caswell
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chrome.exe ?

Are you launching chrome.exe rather than GoogleChromePortable.exe ?

If so, you're bypassing the portability bits we've got there.

John T. Haller
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Override

The registry key completely overrides the ability to set where Chrome's profile is via command line. So, our portable launcher can't do its job.

Sometimes, the impossible can become possible, if you're awesome!

salclem2
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new packet

I have built a new packet of the Portable applications, i.e. both chrome programs: Google Chrome and Chromium.
Can be downloaded at the following address:

for Google Chrome
[link to illegal package removed by mod JTH]

for Chromium
http://salclem2.altervista.org/wiki/index.php/Chromium

Thanks for the aid.

John T. Haller
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Why? License violation

Two things. First, Google Chrome can not legally be repackaged without the express consent of Google. Any packages you see online that include the Chrome binaries are done illegally. Second, why are you repackaging in the first place?

Sometimes, the impossible can become possible, if you're awesome!

salclem2
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Re: Why? License violation

Sorry, in the PortableApps List there is written,
"Google Chrome Portable (Freeware) - fast, simple, themeable browser",
then it is a freeware, and since the PortableApps Platform is a freeware too, I think you are wrong.

Then, I don't believe it is a license violation.
If you do, please detail it here.

Thanks

John T. Haller
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Freeware Does Not Mean Permission

The only thing "freeware" means is that you, as a user, can download and use the application in accordance with the license for free. That's it. It doesn't imply you have a right to redistribute it, even unchanged. A large percentage of freeware licenses permit redistribution, but only if it's completely unchanged. A very very small percentage of freeware does give you permission to modify or repackage and redistribute.

Most open source licenses give you permission to redistribute and modify. Most don't permit you to use a trademarked name if you do so. Mozilla Firefox, for instance. You can modify and redistribute the code, but you can't call it Firefox without Mozilla's permission.

In short, the only way you can repackage a given piece of software and redistribute it is with permission. Most open source licenses give you this permission. Most freeware licenses do not. Google Chrome's license does not.

Sometimes, the impossible can become possible, if you're awesome!

salclem2
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Permission already given

Sorry, I don't agree. Because I have not repackaged Chrome but ChromePortable, two different things.

In fact in your source code of NSI file used to control the repackaging
process of Google Chrome Portable is written (textual):

;This software is OSI Certified Open Source Software.
;OSI Certified is a certification mark of the Open Source Initiative.
;This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or
;modify it under the terms of the GNU General Public License
;as published by the Free Software Foundation; either version 2
;of the License, or (at your option) any later version.

Sorry, I still think you are wrong.

John T. Haller
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Incorrect

You'll note that Google Chrome Portable does not include Chrome. It downloads it. What you're doing is illegal.

Note that even if you remedy this, you can't post a simple repack version here. Unless, of course, you're helping out with a bug fix for us to incorporate into the proper version. We don't permit self-promotion of repackaging existing apps.

Sometimes, the impossible can become possible, if you're awesome!

xbliss
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Did anyone else try this out?

Did anyone else try this out?

mjashby
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Did anyone else try this out?

Don't know what you mean. There's nothing to "try out".

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