What is Digg?95 Comments
- tylerl, on 10/12/2007, -1/+29The reason is that Google desktop puts a "hook" in your network connections so that it can watch the ins and outs and index the traffic as it passes through (that way, for example, it works with any email client or web browser because it works at the network level).
This is totally safe and usually can be uninstalled just fine. However, if you install another program that does the same thing but wasn't written as well (often the software provided by ISPs fits this category), then removing the Google software can "break" the ISPs poorly written software, which has the unfortunate side effect of also disabling your network connection.
Everyone who's ever programmed has discovered that no matter how good your software is, you can only do so much to work around others' bugs. And often it's your software that looks bad because of it. - tom6a, on 10/12/2007, -11/+34I'm guessing it's an honest mistake. They wouldn't do this on purpose.
- lukas88, on 10/12/2007, -3/+23Your right, but you can bet they spent alot more time making sure it installs correctly than uninstalls correctly. Still, they are responsible for both.
- theone3, on 10/12/2007, -6/+21Yeah, they do offer a solution, although it is ON THE INTERNET!
- JimDigg, on 10/12/2007, -1/+14Yes, but have you ever "uninstalled" it? ;-)
- rastan, on 10/12/2007, -0/+13That's OK, I'll just ask Sen. Ted Stevens to send me another one of the Internets in case this breaks my Internet.
- ionut, on 10/12/2007, -0/+10I uninstalled Google Desktop more than once and the net was OK.
- Atomic1fire, on 10/12/2007, -1/+11simple download the solution before you start the problem
- Scruffydan, on 10/12/2007, -2/+12I installed google desktop, and then unistalled it with no probelm
- misinformation, on 10/12/2007, -1/+10How else are they supposed to offer it? In the newspaper, in a novel, on television? Google does everything online, why should this be any different. If you uninstall it, even if it was in a help file, it is gone.
- Yorn, on 10/12/2007, -0/+8I'm not a Google Desktop user, but this sounds like it is due to some LSPs by certain software that add features to Winsock 2. Google can't determine when you install/remove these utilities and cannot restore the correct settings on uninstall. They probably could pinpoint the problem, but have not been able to discern which LSPs make what changes.
- Lorian, on 10/12/2007, -0/+8They offer a solution to fix it, i don't think they would do that if it was deliberate.
- silentman, on 10/12/2007, -1/+9I have installed, and installed Google Desktop several times and have never "broken my internet."
- JeremyBanks, on 10/12/2007, -2/+9Larry Page (or Sergey Brin, but I think it was Larry) tried to do that, and a few weeks later he created Google.
- lukas88, on 10/12/2007, -0/+7Hmmm, someone was probably downloading A WHOLE BOOK and it got in the way.
- inactive, on 10/12/2007, -1/+8Um, yeah.
Why would google break the internet on various PCs on purpose, if you have recently done LSD and lost a few brain cells, let me re-educate you.
Google is first and foremost an email and search engine. - rabblerabble, on 10/12/2007, -0/+6Oh noes, they broke my intarweb. In other news, I just sent an internet the other day and my buddy just got it this morning. Pipes I tell you, Pipes.
- i6koi, on 10/12/2007, -1/+7Also, how many people can honestly say that their home computer is their ONLY gateway to the Internet? Many people have multiple computers that have access, at the very least a friend's or one at work. I think the real issue here is actually for a user to diagnose that their problem was associated with the uninstallation of Google Desktop.
- ffingers, on 10/12/2007, -3/+9Ummm....yeah? Seriously, I think Google has a good business plan....
Do you think conversations like this actually took place?
Google Exec: "Hey, I know how we can get people dependent on us."
Marketing Guy: "Ummm...don't we have like the highest marketshare of search queries and are beloved by millions?"
Google Exec: "Yeah, but I want to be like Microsoft and try to MAKE them love us...it's BRILLIANT!"
Marketing Guy: "Do you read the news or know anything about users?"
Google Exec: "Listen, just tell the engineers to make some that 'breaks the internet' when it is uninstalled, but only a few machines, not all of them....it's BRILLIANT! It will make us unremovable, and then they will have to use our......."
Marketing Guy: "You're a moron!"
I am SURE it was an honest mistake and even though they offer a fix via the internet...HOW THE HELL ELSE ARE YOU GONNA OFFER IT? Go to another pc and download it. Anyone who installed Google Desktop is a tech person and will know how to do this? Come on, that's a lame joke. As to the poster...why would you link a more than likely honest mistake with intent to try and force people to use something that they never HAD to use in the first place? - djacobs003, on 10/12/2007, -0/+6Good thing they hired all those geniuses.
- inactive, on 10/12/2007, -1/+6you, google fanboys, sound as bad as the apple fanboys we have around here.
- inactive, on 10/12/2007, -2/+6I had problem with gtalk and google desktop causing blue screen, had to remove it and use jabber instead, so I guess this is just poor coding rather than doing it in purpose
- inactive, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4it's nothing like spyware, the thing that makes spyware spyware is when it covertly reports back on your activities to it's developer or 3rd parties
- Urusai, on 10/12/2007, -1/+5You mean, like when it reports back to Google and the NSA?
Pray tell, why are there still Google Desktop files AFTER you uninstall (the article's recommendation is to run a utility from the Google Desktop folder)? Why do you trust Google more than CoolWWWSearch? - SirThom, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4"In the meantime, if these steps don't restore your connection, please let us know."
How are you supposed to contact Google if your interenet's broke? I bet Al Gore would know what to do. =P - brandizzle, on 10/12/2007, -2/+6Of course they wouldn't do it on purpose. If they did then there wouldn't be anyone left to click their ads.
- hackwrench, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4For all those with the "internet's broke, how do I access the internet" dilemma, it's usually by going to the library or a friend's house.
- SerenityX, on 10/12/2007, -3/+7Break your internet? That reminds me of the senator who tried to download the internet.
Likewise, I'm guessing it's just an honest mistake. - Slummock, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4Never had problems uninstalling it. If they admit to the problem, and it's not affected anyone here. It doesn't seem intentional or even that bad.
- inactive, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3Now we know where Ted Stevens internets went!
- dtfinch, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3Uninstallers are never tested as much as they ought to be. Honest mistake. And I too have uninstalled this from a couple of systems without trouble.
- inactive, on 10/12/2007, -7/+10are you high?
- MonkeyFit, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3"you can't go lower than rock bottom."
It's been my experience that when you hit rock bottom, you tend to break out the pick-axe and digg yourself deeper. - inactive, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3i don't know where your getting your information about it reporting back to the NSA, but i bet it conspericythoeries.com or some suc *****.
it's perfectly normal for an applicatio to leave files on you computer after installation, it often handy to do so to help detect previous installs if you ever reinstall it.
infact every program you have ever used most likely leaves a trace of itself in some form even after that magic windows uninstall shield nonsense has told you otherwise - punkrockxtian, on 10/12/2007, -3/+5worse than microsoft? you can't go lower than rock bottom.
- BenSerwa, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2Not my internet! I got that sent to me by my staff at 10 o'clock in the morning on Friday and I just got it yesterday! IT'S A SERIES OF TUBES!
- CornStarch, on 10/12/2007, -2/+4I hate google desktop, maybe if I had a two monitor setup I'd be cool with it but other than that it takes up too much space.
- Vector713, on 10/12/2007, -1/+3lmao, dugg for the simpleton jargon
"broken internet"
heh. - darkyoshi, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2The reason it breaks your internet is becuase the two dig themselves so deep into the roots of Windows that the OS depends on them.
- dignation, on 10/12/2007, -3/+5Wow, google desktop grabs on to your system files like spyware. Creepy.
- monkeycool, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2You're right darkyoshi, I seriously doubt it's intentional. Google desktop messed up my system a few times and now I don't use it anymore (which is a shame because I really liked it). It's ok, I still love you Google :)
- Pendragon, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2http://www.penny-arcade.com/images/1999/19990106h.jpg
- TheBaker, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2So Google, a company based completely on the internet and who get all their revenue from the internet are going to disable their clients internet connection on purpose? Right...
- inactive, on 10/12/2007, -1/+3@ foshizol
I don't use BitTorrent, but I did notice an occasional system slow down when playing games. After a little investigation, it looked like Google Desktop was downloading something (I think emails) to index them. It was definitely Google Desktop and the downloading pattern was something like 10MB download then like a 30 seconds break, this would repeat again and again. Someone correct me if I'm wrong. - MuddyPitch, on 10/12/2007, -1/+3From the Google Operating System blog:
"The situation is not rare, since they have an application that deals with that. It's interesting to see they ask you to download a file when your Internet connection doesn't work."
http://googlesystem.blogspot.com/2006/07/google-desktop-may-break-your-internet.htm - TVarmy, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2Internet repair is easy. Just get some tubes down at the Home Depot and patch it in at the leak. Oh, and get some for big business, too. They'll need a lot of tubes to make their own private internet that they can use like a truck without getting Ted Stevens mad. I bet he'll get five internets a day when that gets fixed.
- acidzebra, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2"I'm 99% sure that locked my motherboard out of the internet'
Uh-huh. Maybe the little gremlin packed up and left. "locked my motherboard out"? What does that even mean? - mhearne, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2Well gosh, I'm glad there's no such thing under Linux.
I do use my Google home page to start up each day, but I really don't know about mirco-centric stuff.
I recently tried to switch from dial-up to high-speed, but all the providers insisted that i _must_ use their software. Why? All I need is a connection, not an experiance.
After 4 years, Earthlink still insists that I cannot use their service, and yet, I have not connected with Windows since 2002. I think they must catch on slowley. Of course, I began with them in 1999 (after they discontinued their "free" service), and since I began with Windows, and then switched to Linux may make a difference.
My point is this. All I need from an ISP is a dialup number, a user name and a password. I do not need their stupid software.
In any case, Bill seems to be using this requirement as a weapon against all competition.
I have enough to work for several years without going online. I don't care.
Michael - foshizol, on 10/12/2007, -1/+3No problem uninstalling it here. Did or does anyone have a problem with Bit-torrents slowing down with Google desktop running? Heh, It's probably just my imagination. It always seems to happen when I'm downloading the new Doctor Who episodes. :)
- xswag, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2I've also uninstalled and installed this many times with no ill effects.
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