Cannot uninstall Google Drive or install a new one

Question

I believe something has happened when upgrading from the old Google Backup app to the new Google Drive.

I clearly see it in Apps & features, so it must have been installed, but there is no way to run the application. This is what I'm seeing when I try to uninstall it:

I tried to manually run this file from this folder, however I was denied access to it even with Administrator rights.

This is what I'm seeing when I'm trying to install it without uninstalling:

I tried to manually remove the Google Drive folder from the system and all its traces from the registry, however this did not help. I might have missed something.

Answer 1

Hi Greg!

Thank you for your reply.

I have shown you two screenshots with explanations that I can neither install it nor uninstall it, and you literally just advised me to do exactly this and that. Can you please read the original post?

Answer 2

I'm afraid there is not System Restore point that far off. The initial upgrade to Google Drive happened months ago, but I have only recently discovered, that it's not actually working or present as a properly installed application. That's when I tried to uninstall/reinstall it and clean it out of the system.

What might actually help is the info on how to completely remove it from the system using the registry. I feel like I have simply missed some spots.

Answer 3

How to completely remove Google Drive from Windows, including registry listings:

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/topic/fix-p...

https://www.cbackup.com/articles/uninstall-goog...

https://www.groovypost.com/howto/uninstall-goog...

https://monkeymanifesto.com/how-to-remove-googl... (recommends IoBit uninstall - set a System Restore point first)

Answer 4

The link leads to Google Drive installation. Google Drive is the replacement for Google Backup & Sync.

These are images from the link you provided:

These is literally no word of Google Desktop.

Answer 5

Well then they've changed it was Google Desktop when I installed it myself about six months ago. I remember installing it over Google Backup, Drive didn't seem to be involved.

I wonder if hacking in the registry fatally messed it up. Can you System Restore to a point before this all started, and then start over?

Then try installing the upgraded Drive for Desktop from here:

Install and set up Google Drive for desktop - Google Workspace Learning Center