Observant computer users might discover the process googleupdate.exe running on their computer system after installing a software product by Google. This can be the new Google Chrome web browser, Google Picasa or many other Google products that are installed locally. The process googleupdate.exe will run automatically in the background and check Google servers frequently for software updates.
Googleupdate.exe uses about 1.6 Megabytes of computer memory while running. This might not be much on computer systems that have Gigabytes of computer memory but can make a difference on low end systems. There is however another aspect that requires some attention. Googleupdate.exe will send data to the Google server whenever it checks for updates.
This data includes a unique ID number, languages, operating systems, version numbers and other install or update related details. Disabling the googleupdate.exe process is thankfully not complicated. The process can easily be killed at any time and will not appear again in the process list during that session.
The Google Update process is added as a service during the first installation of a Google software that makes use of it. To change its behavior one would simply open the services configuration with [Windows R], [services.msc] and hitting [enter]. The service is called Google Update Service (gupdatexxx) with xxx being a random ID)
A double-click on GoogleUpdate.exe will open the properties of the services with the option to change the startup type from automatic to disabled.
A click on the apply button will change the setting and ensure that Googleupdate.exe will not be started during Windows startup anymore. Another click on Stop will stop the process for the current session.
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22 Responses to “GoogleUpdate.exe”
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what program is that screenshot from? my services manager (XP default) is ugly compared to that :(
That’s Starter.
I hate crapware that runs without my permission, thanks Martin.
Since I install software in places other than C:\Program Files, most of the time, these update tasks don’t work for me. I also always store the source .exe or .zip in a folder called ZIP as a subfolder of the install folder which the auto update tasks wouldn’t do. So I always turn these things off.
btw: Is Google still forcing Google Earth into C:\Program Files? I gave up on that app when they started doing this a while back.
If you are developing an application, you should let the user decide where to install it.
I disable the google update in my services list just as the article suggests and it still runs without fail.
Kevin did you stop the service as well?
weird enough, i don’t have google update under services, i think it starts up once chrome is started :S
Do a search on “Googleupdate.exe”. You might find it under “Scheduled Tasks” in your Control panel.
In that case you simply delete the task.
Additionally you have to use msconfig to stop Googeleupdate from running at startup again.
Sneaky little bugger!
i can’t find the website/download for “Starter” all i get on google are pages related to starting windows.
if anyone could provide a link to Starter i would appreciate it.
there is an instance of GU in msconfig/services tab (may be 2) and 1 or 2 in startup tab. also the Services.msc, 2 there. check the “Scheduled Tasks” folder there was a little bugger in there that would “reinstall” the task even after disabling all the others.
Starter;
http://codestuff.tripod.com/products_starter.html
thank you it helped me, i could able to disable it from windows xp->control panel-> scheduled tasks.
@Dante
Thanks,
I had scheduled task, no wonder it still ran after deleting/disabling it in msconfig/services.
Thank u!! I was able to disable it from windows xp->control panel-> scheduled tasks, right-clicked on the googleupdate task and properties.
I had recently removed the Google Chrome program from my computer and was still getting these error messages about GoogleUpdate load errors?? Didn’t understand where that was coming from since I had gotten rid of Chrome.
Thanks again! :)
i want google earth to find all world
download
I want the name of the software with which you took the screenshots. I know it’s a freeware, i’ve used it, but now I couldn’t find it. Please give its homepage. Thank you
It’s MWSnap.
Oh I’m sorry, I didn’t mean it… I want the app that is featured in the screenshots
Thanks. mine kept reloading from Scheduled Tasks as well. Got the little bugger.