Staycalmsyndrome Thanks. That's what I did, fully uninstalled Chrome and deleted some folders manually as per a protocol I had found online. One doubt is that, afterwards, I may have installed the old Chrome version using the incorrect executable, like, I read somewhere that I needed the full installer and not the downloader, but I wasn't sure about the difference. Maybe I did a sorta partial (re-)install?
One thing that I'm considering is reversing all recent updates on my laptop - from Chrome to OS - using a restore point I had created. Have you ever done it? This would be without authorization by my IT admin, and I have some concerns I may fuxk up my laptop... What a stress!

      AGI I see. An online installer(1-2 MB in size) always downloads and installs the latest setup package. Offline installers can be found here(70-100MB in size). Download the version that you had but disable internet connection before you install and disable update services/tasks because it opens the browser automatically after it's done and triggers autoupdate. If update services don't appear, the installation got corrupted somehow and you just have to rename the update folder.

      Using a restore point returns software, registry, and driver configuration at a specific point. If you made one before uninstalling chrome, it should return it to normal. I use it to revert drivers and never had problems with it.

      • AGI replied to this.

          Staycalmsyndrome You can find older offline installers here.

          I will check this out, many thanks!
          EDIT: That is what I had used, ca. 100 MB size...

          I did a system restore. It was not fully successful. I am still checking what the damages are (as of now, Skype is not booting). A "Google" folder has shown up in Program Files (x86), but there are still no Google Update folder and Google-related services. Chrome is not installed so I must have created the restore point after its uninstall?

          Unfortunately, although I had expanded the space allocated for system restore points to 10% of the HDD (95 GB), I could not load older restore points than the one I used. Not sure why they got deleted as there is plenty of space.
          I will keep investigating. Thanks for now!

            @Staycalmsyndrome Sorry for the soap opera - I had to undo the system restore because a few things got screwed up. I still got an error that the undo did not complete successfully, but at least Skype and OneDrive work now. Meanwhile I found a Google folder in C:\Users\xxx\AppData\Local\Google. Inside there is an empty GoogleUpdater folder. There is also a Chrome\User Data folder with heaps of sub-folders. I reckon it is there that Firefox and Opera imported all the Chrome bookmarks and passwords from, when Chrome was already uninstalled.
            Do I have to eliminate all this stuff in AppData as well before reinstalling Chrome? Thanks!

              AGI hope you managed to downgrade chrome. I haven't gotten round to trying to do it yet - I'm using another device on which chrome hasn't been updated.

              • AGI replied to this.

                  Why don't you just use Firefox ESR instead of Chrome?

                  • AGI likes this.

                  Deepdeep No, sorry, I have been busy reversing Windows updates and the BIOS. I am testing Opera and Firefox ESR for the moment. I don't know anymore what causes what, but my laptop screen hurts like hell.

                      It's not the browser. Stop and take a break. Do a clean install, there is no point trying to reverse updates and the bios both at the same time. Plan things out properly.

                      AGI sorry to hear that you haven't managed a fix yet and hope you find one soon. Meanwhile, it might help to try using sunglasses coz in my experience they can reduce the strain on some devices, and sometimes quite significantly. I wear the sunglasses over my prescription glasses, btw.

                      • AGI replied to this.
                          4 days later

                          Deepdeep I am considering trying Avulux glasses. Theraspecs ones didn't make a difference. I'm a bit tired of throwing money away, though.
                          I'm skeptic I'll find a solution as I have limited control of my laptop. I'd need to ask my IT admin for a clean install of Windows, and then the OS version will be 22H2 which I'm not confident I can adjust to.

                            Back to Firefox ESR for just a question: pop-ups for update appear; is it safe to update (strain-wise) or should I just keep dismissing them?

                            It's fine. ESR updates are just security fixes. Next version bump isn't till Sep or Oct.

                              a year later

                              Firefox ESR updaed today to 115.5 and it became strainy. I had to uninstall and reinstall 115.4 and disable updates; so, beware!

                              FF 130 seems ok on my Linux device so you should try jumping all the way to the front (if you care about updating, I don't, I haven't bothered on my Windows machine).

                              You can set it up as a parallel installation to a different folder and point it at your profile folder (or just have a separate profile for it).

                                For me whenever this happens with my 8.1 laptop I restore to a restore point I created before I installed Chrome, and it consistently fixes it for me. Firefox doesn't seem to affect it (however I am using an older version of Firefox ESR and freezed updates to it many months ago)

                                BTW, on some Win 8.1 laptops by Lenovo, there's a weird quirk that causes the screen to feel more unstable when anything is plugged into any port, no matter if it's power, a USB wifi adapter, an Ethernet adapter, mouse, etc.

                                However, this is a very unique issue that I really haven't seen on any other laptop, on other devices I own the ports don't affect strain at all. Probably is due to poor isolation of components inside of the laptop or something like that.

                                So due to that, I'm also only able to get the best screen output on my Win 8.1 Lenovo by only using the on-board WiFi + Bluetooth mouse + nothing connected to ports at all + I don't use it while it's charging unless I really need to.

                                (i.e. an Ethernet cable and a USB mouse actually causes more strain on my Lenovo because those require using the ports)

                                • JTL replied to this.

                                  DisplaysShouldNotBeTVs BTW, on some Win 8.1 laptops by Lenovo, there's a weird quirk that causes the screen to feel more unstable when anything is plugged into any port, no matter if it's power, a USB wifi adapter, an Ethernet adapter, mouse, etc.

                                  If it's consistent across OS's and etc I would guess either EMI or some sort of "brownout" condition

                                    Sunspark FF 130 does not install on 8.1, the latest ESR that I could install is 115.9.1. I would like to stay on 115.3.1 which is without issues, but youtube clips keep freezing on it.

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