How Can I Install Chrome on a Different Drive?

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You can use junction software to place Chrome on any hard drive you want.

Google Chrome is a relatively bare-bones browser, offering users speed and simplicity on the Internet. (see Ref. 1) However, the browser also features optional plug-ins to enhance the basic Chrome software with email notifications, visual themes, stock tickers, weather apps and more. (see Ref. 2) When you download Chrome from Google's website, the browser automatically installs to your default drive. There is no option to change the target directory during the installation process. However, you can manually move Chrome to a different drive and use a "junction" to keep the program running smoothly in its new location.

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Step 1

Download Chrome from Google's website (see Resource 1) and click "Next" through the automatic installation process. During the installation, Chrome will download to your default hard drive. This is usually the "C" drive.

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Step 2

Click on the Windows "Start" button, and click "Computer."

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Step 3

Click on "Users" and your user name.

Step 4

Click "AppData," "Local" and "Google."

Step 5

Right-click on the "Chrome" folder and select "Cut."

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Step 6

Return to the Computer window, and click on the drive where you want to install Chrome.

Step 7

Right-click in an empty space on the screen and select "Paste." Chrome's files are removed from the original location and placed on the new drive.

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Step 8

Download free junction software from the Microsoft Tech Net website (see Resource 2). Google Chrome is designed to run from a specific location on your computer, but a junction program lets you redirect the software to a new location without any errors.

Step 9

Right-click on the "junction.zip" file, and select "Extract All."

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Step 10

Right-click on the extracted "junction.exe" file and select Cut.

Step 11

Return to the Computer window and click on the "C" drive.

Step 12

Click on "Windows" and "system32."

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Step 13

Right-click in the folder and select "paste."

Step 14

Click on the Start button.

Step 15

Enter "cmd.exe" into the "Search programs and files" field at the bottom of the Start menu.

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Step 16

Double-click on the "cmd.exe" to open up a DOS prompt.

Step 17

Type the following into the command prompt, including the quotes and substituting your user name and the new Google chrome drive location in the parenthetical fields: junction.exe "C:\Users(your user name)\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome" "(the new location of Google Chrome)"

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references & resources