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Google Earth Keeps Disappearing

WildCat

NWO Master Conspirator
WildCat
Joined
Mar 23, 2003
Messages
59,856
So last fall I downloaded Google Earth, a few months later I couldn't find it in my program files. I downloaded it again, except not really. It went really fast, so all the files must still have been on my hd. I thought maybe I just accidentally deleted the shortcut. So this time I pinned the shortcut to my task bar.

A few weeks later, it disappeared again! Same thing, an instantaneous "download", so it was still there somewhere, though I couldn't find it in my Google folder. I have it pinned to my taskbar again, but I expect it will disappear again at some point.

Anyone know what's going on? Is Google punishing me for not using the Chrome browser GE is bundled with? Poltergeists?

No one but me uses this computer.

Running W7 64-bit if it matters.
 
Perhaps you have the desktop cleanup wizard running or something similar to it where it is moving unused icons off the desktop.

I haven't installed google earth in years so its just a guess
 
Make a note where the shortcut is pointing to. Then if the shortcut disappears then you can see if the program itself has disappeared.

You can also create two or three shortcuts in different places, which Google will not know about.
 
I had exactly the same thing happen with Google Earth. I never did solve it, I just used my other machine to do my geocoding. The shortcuts kept disappearing, and whenever I tried to use Picasa with GE for geocoding, it would kick off as if starting the installation of Earth, which I could cancel as soon as it started, whereupon Earth would load.

I don't think getting a Mac would help with glitches in third-party software. Unless, of course, Apple move Mac over to the preapproved App Store only software model.
 
On a side note...

I never used Google Earth. What would be the main "selling" point to install it, instead of using Google Maps / Bing Maps?
 
Now that they've added the Earth layer to Google Maps, not so much. It allows you to move around the earth in three dimensions, seeing the lay of the land. It also, as I mentioned above, interacts with Picasa to make geocoding images simple.
 
Thanks! So it's mainly an offline version of Google Maps?
 
I've seen similar issues, even on MACs.
Not a clue what causes it, not just Google Earth, but other programs.
 
My desktop shortcut disappeared earlier tonight, but the prog was still in the Google folder so I just created a new shortcut.

What would be the main "selling" point to install it, instead of using Google Maps / Bing Maps?
Click to expand...

Does Google Maps have the various layers like hotels, restaurants, transportation centers, etc?

Steve S
 
Had the shortcut disappear on me for no reason today. The program was still installed.
 
Maybe it's not the fact that Google Earth link keeps coming and going, or even that the app is in a state of flux. Perhaps it is the fact that the Earth itself is switching in and out, there and then not there.

I mean it_________ealms of possib___________his may be happe________peciall_________stralia.

Huh? What jus__________penned the________All the light st_________went off an o__________ery dark!

OK!! Who's pla_________ith the big swit_________UT THAT OU________ERS!!!

Oh for fu_____sake....
 
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My shortcut does not disappear, but then I do not have the shortcut on the desktop. I put my shortcuts in a folder. Leave the desktop clean for the essentials.
 
I found Vista hides stuff if you don't use them often enough. I have no idea where it hides them but as soon as you download it reappears back. That is until you don't and the Vista cleaning fairy strikes again.

I often wondered my drive seemed full of stuff, yet Vista says there are next to no programs etc on its list.
 
Corpse Cruncher said:
I found Vista hides stuff if you don't use them often enough. I have no idea where it hides them but as soon as you download it reappears back. That is until you don't and the Vista cleaning fairy strikes again.

I often wondered my drive seemed full of stuff, yet Vista says there are next to no programs etc on its list.
Click to expand...

This is one of the things I truly hate about Microsoft products. That by default it does things I don't want it to do, that it want's to "think" for you.

But there is a solution to this... get Unix on your PC or get a Mac :)
 
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WildCat said:
Ah, so it wasn't anything I did!
Click to expand...

No, it was anything you didn't do ;)

Oh, and GE does much more than Google Maps. There's more tools available, such as a ruler so you can measure distances.
Click to expand...

Thanks, might be interesting to download after all. I'll give it a closer look.
 
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Google Earth orbits Google Sun. Track its trajectory from its last known positions and you should find it.

Once my copy strayed a bit from its orbit and almost hit massive_asteroid.txt. That was very scary for a sec.
 
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