Failure to bring up Chrome/Edge

Chamberlain, Anthony 1 Reputation point
2022-08-19T11:48:51.393+00:00

We are using VS/Test Complete. Part of the automation is to start a Chrome (or now Edge) window from the script. This was working fine in the past, but now the window won't start up. However, if there is already an instance of the browser running, then it starts up fine and works fine. Only if there is no instance running.

I had a hypothesis so I tried this (both with and without "start") from the MS Command Prompt:

start msedge
start chrome

again, if no instance was running the browser came up, had a completely white screen, and then died again. If another instance was running, the browser came up fine. I am not sure whether these are related or not but it seems like they maybe could be. Any ideas? Here are some stats:

Windows 10 Enterprise, 20H2, 1/‎19/‎2022, OS: 19042.1889, Experience: Windows Feature Experience Pack 120.2212.4180.0

Chrome:
Updates are disabled by your administrator.
Version 104.0.5112.102 (Official Build) (64-bit)

Edge:
Version 104.0.1293.54 (Official build) (64-bit)

Again, I do not think this is a VS or Test Complete issue, but something with windows? I do not have this problem using power shell or GIT BASH. Nor do I have this problem on a VM with the same Windows configuration

Microsoft Edge
Microsoft Edge
A Microsoft cross-platform web browser that provides privacy, learning, and accessibility tools.
1,447 questions
Windows 10
Windows 10
A Microsoft operating system that runs on personal computers and tablets.
6,650 questions

3 answers

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  1. Limitless Technology 37,526 Reputation points
    2022-08-22T07:24:30.813+00:00

    Hello there,

    As you have stated that it has been working in the Past, so did you update the PC? Can you check if removing the update changes the scenario?

    Also to exact find the reason you have to dig deeper to understand the backend process that is causing the script to not initiate the Chrome processor.

    Process Monitor is an advanced monitoring tool for Windows that shows real-time file system, Registry and process/thread activity. You can get the tool from here https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/downloads/procmon

    System Monitor (Sysmon) is a Windows system service and device driver that, once installed on a system, remains resident across system reboots to monitor and log system activity to the Windows event log.You can get the tool from here https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/downloads/sysmon

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  2. Chamberlain, Anthony 1 Reputation point
    2022-08-22T09:27:43.357+00:00

    Did that already but same problem ;-( And yes, I mean that ;-)

    As for installing things, I have to ask IT, but I will do that, though I think he already tried one of those tools.
    Thanks. Also, the VM on which it works has the same updates. To undo the updates we also have to ask IT.
    Not sure they will?

  3. MotoX80 24,711 Reputation points
    2022-08-26T15:18:53.717+00:00

    Perhaps i need something else in PATH?

    I traced a "start chrome" with Process Monitor on my Win11 laptop. I see it looking for chrome in the PATH folders. It didn't find it and then looked in HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\App Paths\chrome.exe

    Have your IT guys trace the failure and see if the pc looks at that registry key or gets an "access denied" somewhere along the way.

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