Google Chrome stability

In the past several weeks, my Google Chrome (GC) browser has seemingly been unstable. I have had to reboot my PC several times when the browser exhibited very slow responses (i.e., opening and closing of pages even outside of "rush-hour" internet traffic) and outright crashed this evening. I had several tabs open and I was switching between web-browsing and viewing a video on VLC Media Player this evening and usually have a VLC video also playing the other times--could playing VLC videos while browsing the web cause the slowdowns and crash? I know no browser is completely immune from viruses and spam. If the VLC player did not cause the problems, is GC less stable than other browsers or do the problems I described occur with all browsers from time to time?

Thanks much for reading and for any information/opinions.

 

Google Chrome has been known to have stability issues. This is often caused by the initial install.

My suggestion is that you sync your data, unininstall, delete your User_Data folder, and reinstall.

 

I appreciate your information and suggestions. At the risk of appearing to be imbecilic, I'd like to confirm one aspect--by "sync your data", I presume the process requires a 2nd PC with Google Chrome (GC) installed also.

Since posting my initial problem and information, my GC has crashed several more times and a Windows message appeared I was low on memory and that 1GB of memory was unable to be allocated, despite my hard drive having about 23.5GB of available space. I surmise this is related to the GC stability issues you mentioned.

Thanks much,

 

just in case: your windows informing low on memory means RAM, not disk space.

and other than that, no, just enable sync in the settings (log in with your google account, or create one as needed). it syncs your favourites and extensions onto google servers, and after the reinstall and cleanup, you log in again, and get all settings back.

 

clear cache?

 

My Google Chrome (v11.0.696.71) has no stability issues.
Be sure that you use the public version and not the latest and greatest beta versions.
Things tend to break when you use the bleeding edge stuff.

 

indeed, shouldn't be buggy at all. not even beta is buggy for me since months or years by now (how old is google chrome now? ).

i'd try this one (if clearing cache doesn't work)

Create a new browser user profile : Troubleshooting - Google Chrome Help

 

Chrome is nearly 3 years old I believe.

And I always use the beta -- no stability issues. Again, most of the issues people have are caused by a bad installation, Chrome's current installation package is huge and they're working on trimming it down.

 

I'm also using Google Chrome v. 11.0.696.71 and it has been solid for many months since I ditched Firefox 4 during its beta development.

 

Been using it since it came out, honestly has never crashed on me once. Never once had to force quit...

 

I appreciate the additional responses and information. Referring back to Daveperman's reply, I sheepishly admit I did not realize the memory problems were related to RAM. I have two additional questions, one RAM-related:


1. Can RAM deteriorate over time, especially if its PC is used almost daily? Does this pathway--Control Panel\System and Maintenance\System--indicate the amount of viable RAM or should I use a different protocol?

2. Is clearing browsing history and cookies he same as clearing cache? If the two are different, can cache be cleared under internet options or is there a different protocol?

Thanks much again,

 

1. No, it will not deteriorate over time.
2. Get CC Cleaner, open it, go to cleaner. Switch over to application, check the boxes as follows (make sure you are under Google Chrome not IE): Internet Cache, Internet History, Cookies, Download History. And hit analyze on the bottom left. Then hit run cleaner. Easy

CCleaner - Optimization and Cleaning - Free Download

But honestly as mentioned before, try a different version. It probably has nothing to do with hardware.

 

I plan to uninstall GC and install a new one. I thought the recommendations was to clear cache along with the install--and as I am writing this I realize now the GC uninstall-install process renders this superfluous!

One more question--how do I locate my user_data folder? I understand deleting this is recommended along with the uninstall-install process.

Thanks,

 

I uninstalled and re-installed Google Chrome (GC) as recommended and an hour later, my GC seems stable without notices of memory shortage. I did not delete the user_data folder because I could not locate it and could not find more information from a Google search, PC search, or forum query. However, this does not seem to affect the GC stability so far. Thanks much to all who responded, especially Hungry_Man for his succinct explanation of the solution procedure.

 

userdata would just have been

C:\Users\yourname\AppData\Local

for the next time.

and to quickly get there, press the start orb, and type in %localappdata%, then enter, and then there are all your apps local settings, including a folder Google, and there's chrome in.

but as it works by now, no need for deleting that folder.