Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is Google Chrome Portable?
Google Chrome Portable is a secure, open-source web browser released by Google
in 2008. It’s designed specifically for use with modern web design and has grown
to be today’s most popular web browser.
2. Why is Google Chrome Portable being added to my desktop?
The standard web browser used throughout PHC is Internet Explorer 6 (IE6), a
browser that is ten years old. We use IE6 because many of our main clinical and
business applications, such as PCIS, SoftMed, and PHC Connect, need it to
function and / or display correctly. However, many newer websites are no longer optimized for IE6, which means many websites you regularly access may not display or function properly. Google Chrome Portable is provided as a secondary web browser to allow you better access to external websites and updated web functionality.
3. Why are we using Google Chrome Portable?
Google Chrome Portable is a fast, simple, and secure web browser that was built
for the modern web. HSSBC/IMITS have tested this browser in our desktop
environment and found that it will not interfere with the functioning of IE6.
4. Why are we using Google Chrome Portable and not the full version of Google
Chrome?
The full version of Google Chrome is not being used because it has not been
tested by our application vendors or IMITS. Google Chrome Portable has been
tested and will not interfere with the functioning of IE6 or any of our critical
clinical and business applications.
5. Can I set Google Chrome Portable as my primary (or default) web browser?
No. It’s meant to be a secondary web browser, only to be used to access external
websites. All of our critical clinical and business applications run on IE6. You
must use IE6 for everything besides accessing external websites.
6. How do I access Google Chrome Portable?
Look for your VCH-PHC Applications folder on your desktop. Inside the folder
you’ll see the icon for Google Chrome Portable.
7. Why can’t I set bookmarks or maintain my browsing history with Google Chrome
Portable?
Google Chrome Portable is a shared application that resides on the network.
Therefore, bookmarks, cache, website history, and other settings can’t be saved
when the browser is closed down.
8. What do I do if I have technical issues when using Google Chrome Portable?
Call the Service Desk. Google Chrome Portable is being supported to the same
extent as any other desktop application approved for use by HSSBC / IMITS.
9. Is everybody at PHC getting access to Google Chrome Portable?
Yes, all users in the Health Authority, including PHC researchers embedded in
other organizations, will get access to Google Chrome Portable.
10. What happens if I try to access PCIS, PHC Connect, or any other clinical or
business application that has not been certified for use with Google Chrome
Portable?
HSSBC and IMITS are ensuring that these applications are “blacklisted” from the
Google Chrome Portable browser. If you try and access them through Google Chrome
Portable anyway you’ll be redirected to a page that tells you to use IE6
instead.
11. Which applications are being “blacklisted” from Google Chrome Portable?
Essentially, everything except external websites will be “blacklisted”. However,
if you’d like to see a list of the “blacklisted” applications, they are
available on PHC Connect. This list will be continually updated.
12. What happens if I downloaded the full version of Google Chrome onto my
desktop?
We know that some of you were able to download non-sanctioned versions of Google
Chrome out of necessity. Understand that this introduced potential IT security
risk to the organization. If this applies to you, we’re asking that you please
use Google Chrome Portable and remove the full version of Google Chrome or any
other alternate browser you have been using. Contact the Help Desk if you need
assistance.
13. Is it normal for Google Chrome Portable to take longer to load?
When it launches the application needs to come across the network and get loaded
onto a temporary location on your PC. This usually takes about 10 – 15 seconds
to complete.
14. Why can’t you just upgrade our browsers to a later version of Internet
Explorer?
Many clinical and business applications could be compromised if we used anything
but IE6 to access them because they are vendor certified for use on that browser
only. Other IMITS-supported applications have not yet been tested for use
outside the standard IE6 browser.