Install Google Chrome Web Browser on a Windows 2008 Terminal Server for All Users

[Leon]

Orginal post: Interworks

 

In case you didn't know, if you install Google Chrome by downloading and installing fromhttp://www.google.com/chrome, Chrome will install itself to the AppData folder for ONLY the user that installed the folder. The install directory is located at:

 

For Windows Vista/Windows 7 - C:\Users\%username%\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\

For Windows XP - C:\Documents and Settings\%username%\Local Settings\Application Data\Google\Chrome\

For Window's Server 2003 if an individual user wants Google Chrome, they can simply go tohttp://www.google.com/chrome and install Chrome. However, that option no longer works for Window's Server 2008 without prompting for an administrator password (at least that's the case with the multiple terminal servers that I've tried).

 

So let's say you want to install Google Chrome on a terminal server for every user so you no longer have to worry about prompting for an administrator password. How would you go about this? In older versions of Google Chrome and in Windows Server 2003, you could copy and app data folder from the user and dump it in the all users folder and create a shortcut to the executable file. However, this no longer works in Windows Server 2008 nor does it work with the newer versions of Google Chrome and Windows Server 2003.

 

Luckily, there is a way to install Google Chrome on a terminal server (at least Windows Server 2008) to allow all users to have access without having administrator rights. By installing fromhttp://pack.google.com'>http://pack.google.com, Chrome will install itself in Program Files and make itself available to all users in Windows Server 2008. Google Pack is currently NOT compatible with Windows Server 2003. If you are the server administrator Chrome is already installed, you will need to uninstall Google Chrome and reinstall from http://pack.google.com for Chrome to install itself for all users. Once this has been done, the executable can be accessed via Program Files for all users.

 

Step by Step Instructions for Windows Server 2008:

 

 

 

 

1. Log on as an administrator
   
2. Uninstall any previous versions of Google Chrome Web Browser
   
3. Go to http://pack.google.com
   
4. Select Google Chrome Web Browser
   
5. Install (folder will be placed in Program Files) and a shortcut should be placed on the desktop for every user.