If you (like me) have tried clicking ‘Make Google Chrome my default browser’ in options > basic with no result, you’re probably as frustrated as I was.
If you’re running Vista, it’s simply a privileges issue, you need to –
- Close Chrome
- Right click the Chrome shortcut and select ‘Run as Administrator’
- Accept the warning about running as administrator
- Go to options > basic (as before)
- Press the ‘Make Google Chrome my default browser’ button
This time it should work 🙂
You can now close the browser as administrator and launch it again with your normal user credentials.
On a side note, if you are having trouble making Skype aware of Opera as your default browser, this may help.
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OSBlues 
September 13, 2008 at 3:24 pm
Vista AND Chrome…owch! I’m happy with XP and Firefox thanks…
September 13, 2008 at 6:24 pm
Tony, I wasn’t claiming Vista and Chrome is the best OS/Browser combination in the world, just posting a solution to a somewhat common issue people are having.
Each to their own 😉
I still use Firefox, it’s a great browser, but for me it’s spiralling memory issues after prolonged use makes my blood boil.
September 27, 2008 at 7:43 pm
Well I personally appreciate the info, it was killing me and I couldn’t figure out what to do – thanks!
P.S. Vista/Chrome is an amazing combo! Everyone knocks Vista but if you are lucky enough to get all the drivers working it’s actually a very good OS.
September 29, 2008 at 2:56 pm
For what it is worth – that didn’t work for me, but what did was:
go into programmes, find Google Chrome open and then right click and run as administrator. That worked, but wouldn’t work on the shortcut.
Thanks tho’ you got me looking in generally the right direction!
September 29, 2008 at 3:13 pm
Thanks David, that may well help someone else 🙂
Not quite sure why it didn’t work on the shortcut though, strange.
October 15, 2008 at 10:43 pm
thanku i was about to through this computer out the belcony and burn it oviosly vista has some problems exepting somone dosnt want to use ie8
November 8, 2008 at 10:49 pm
You were a lot of help. Thank you.
As for Google Chrome – I love it so far. It takes care of my needs, which aren’t the most complex but…
December 9, 2008 at 7:34 pm
You are the best! Thanks for the info.
December 13, 2008 at 10:13 am
Thank you. Your info is useful.
December 28, 2008 at 7:47 am
thanks much. been struggling to figure this out. chrome is so much faster than any other browser. I’m a convert
January 10, 2009 at 6:54 am
Great post. This is a very easy way to fix the annoying Chrome-Vista problem.
I personally like Chrome more then Firefox.
January 11, 2009 at 7:11 pm
[…] wordpress social bookmarks bookmarklet As I use Google Chrome as my default browser nowadays, I don’t currently have access to greasemonkey (userscripts are coming in 2.0 though […]
January 12, 2009 at 12:15 am
Thanks so much!:D
February 7, 2009 at 8:26 pm
Great..it worked..Thanks 🙂
February 11, 2009 at 11:22 pm
Thanks.. It worked for me as well!
March 6, 2009 at 11:16 pm
I had the same problem except I am using the beta of windows 7. Your fix helped, thanks
March 6, 2009 at 11:25 pm
Thanks for the heads-up on that one Brandon. I actually have Windows 7 installed dual boot on my laptop but haven’t tried to install Chrome on it. I really need to boot into more often and have a proper play with Windows 7.