Why is Google Chrome Protection Not Available on my PC?
This information applies if you are seeing the message "Google Chrome Protection Unavailable" in SpywareBlaster.
The Problem:
SpywareBlaster displays:
"Protection is not currently available for this browser on this PC."
"A required API is not available on this installation of Windows."
When attempting to view or enable Google Chrome (or other Chromium-based browser) protection.
"Protection is not currently available for this browser on this PC."
"A required API is not available on this installation of Windows."
When attempting to view or enable Google Chrome (or other Chromium-based browser) protection.
Cause:
This is likely because you are running Windows XP Home Edition.
(See the FAQ below for details.)
Windows XP Professional, as well as newer versions of Windows (Vista, 7, 8, 10+) are unaffected.
(See the FAQ below for details.)
Windows XP Professional, as well as newer versions of Windows (Vista, 7, 8, 10+) are unaffected.
Q & A
Q: What systems does this affect?
Windows XP Home Edition.
Windows XP Professional is unaffected.
Q: Are Windows XP Pro, Vista, 7, 8, or 10 affected? No. Newer versions of Windows (as well as Windows XP Professional) have the required functionality.
Q: Why doesn't Google Chrome protection work on Windows XP Home Edition? Google Chrome is coded to try to use functionality that does not exist on Windows XP Home Edition (but *does* exist on Windows XP Professional, as well as newer versions of Windows). Because of this, certain Google Chrome features do not work properly on Windows XP Home Edition.
Q: But didn't older versions of SpywareBlaster previously protect Google Chrome on Windows XP Home? Yes, but Google changed how Chrome works. Unfortunately, Google's changes broke certain Chrome functionality on Windows XP Home.
Numerous bug reports have been opened with Google, but despite many users/administrators requesting a solution, it seems like Google has made a decision not to resolve the issue.
Coupled with Google's imminent discontinuation of Windows XP support in Chrome (see: http://chrome.blogspot.com/2015/11/updates-to-chrome-platform-support.html), and prioritization of features/support for newer Windows versions, it doesn't look like Google is likely to implement a fix.
Q: So why am I seeing this error that a required API is not available? SpywareBlaster detects the scenario where Google Chrome is relying on functionality that doesn't fully exist on Windows XP Home, and displays an error message.
Unfortunately, because the problem lies in the new way that Google Chrome itself works, there isn't much we can do to fix it. So instead, we have decided to provide this document so that you can make an informed decision.
Q: So if SpywareBlaster does *not* display an error, is Google Chrome protection available? Yes.
We have modified SpywareBlaster to be very clear about this so that users can be confident that it's available and working.
Windows XP Professional is unaffected.
Q: Are Windows XP Pro, Vista, 7, 8, or 10 affected? No. Newer versions of Windows (as well as Windows XP Professional) have the required functionality.
Q: Why doesn't Google Chrome protection work on Windows XP Home Edition? Google Chrome is coded to try to use functionality that does not exist on Windows XP Home Edition (but *does* exist on Windows XP Professional, as well as newer versions of Windows). Because of this, certain Google Chrome features do not work properly on Windows XP Home Edition.
Q: But didn't older versions of SpywareBlaster previously protect Google Chrome on Windows XP Home? Yes, but Google changed how Chrome works. Unfortunately, Google's changes broke certain Chrome functionality on Windows XP Home.
Numerous bug reports have been opened with Google, but despite many users/administrators requesting a solution, it seems like Google has made a decision not to resolve the issue.
Coupled with Google's imminent discontinuation of Windows XP support in Chrome (see: http://chrome.blogspot.com/2015/11/updates-to-chrome-platform-support.html), and prioritization of features/support for newer Windows versions, it doesn't look like Google is likely to implement a fix.
Q: So why am I seeing this error that a required API is not available? SpywareBlaster detects the scenario where Google Chrome is relying on functionality that doesn't fully exist on Windows XP Home, and displays an error message.
Unfortunately, because the problem lies in the new way that Google Chrome itself works, there isn't much we can do to fix it. So instead, we have decided to provide this document so that you can make an informed decision.
Q: So if SpywareBlaster does *not* display an error, is Google Chrome protection available? Yes.
We have modified SpywareBlaster to be very clear about this so that users can be confident that it's available and working.