Startup program entry details:

Google Desktop Search (GoogleDesktop.exe)

This page expands upon the information already available for this entry in the Pacman's Portal Windows start-up programs database.

User's choice - depends whether a user deems it necessary

For further information on how to identify and disable startup programs please visit the Introduction page.

Description:

The Google Desktop utility integrated Google's search capabilities for files on the user's system and allowed users to include gadgets such as clocks, weather and meters in a sidebar on the user's desktop - like that included with Windows 7 and Vista. Now discontinued and no longer available

Startup information:

Registry (Start → Run → regedit)

• Key(s): HKLM\Run & HKCU\Run
• Name: Google Desktop Search
• Data: "C:\Program Files\Google\Google Desktop Search\GoogleDesktop.exe" /startup

MSConfig (Start → Run → msconfig → Startup)

• Startup Item (XP): GoogleDesktop
• Startup Item (Vista/7): Google Desktop
• Command: "C:\Program Files\Google\Google Desktop Search\GoogleDesktop.exe" /startup

Windows Defender (Start → All Programs → Windows Defender → Tools → Software Explorer)

• Name: Google Desktop
• Startup Value: "C:\Program Files\Google\Google Desktop Search\GoogleDesktop.exe" /startup

HijackThis (HJT) log examples:

O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Google Desktop Search] "C:\Program Files\Google\Google Desktop Search\GoogleDesktop.exe" /startup
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Google Desktop Search] "C:\Programme\Google\Google Desktop Search\GoogleDesktop.exe" /startup
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [Google Desktop Search] "C:\Arquivos de programas\Google\Google Desktop Search\GoogleDesktop.exe" /startup
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [Google Desktop Search] "C:\Programmi\Google\Google Desktop Search\GoogleDesktop.exe" /startup

Other information:

• File location: %ProgramFiles%\Google\Google Desktop Search
• File properties "Description": Google Desktop
• Purpose: Search utility
• Program disable option: Right-click on System Tray icon → Exit → deselect "Start Google Desktop when my computer starts"
• Shortcut(s) available: Start Menu & Desktop
• Vendor/Publisher: Google
• Product(s): Google Desktop
• Tested: Yes

Note:

• %ProgramFiles% - refers to the Program Files folder; typically the path is C:\Program Files
• HKLM refers to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE

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