Windows 11 Home (64-bit), ver 25H2; Chrome, ver 145.0.7632.76 (“is up to date”) (Official Build) (64-bit)
Within last few weeks (actual date uncertain) Chrome has started crashing when I try to open it. I think relevant sequence was likely:
- Windows Update runs 1st week of February.
- Chrome works, but eventually indicates there is a new version “with critical updates.”
- I go to Chrome/Help/About Google Chrome and notice it is indicating check for updates failed (with an unspecific/unhelpful error code provided).
- I then followed advice provided when following help link associated with error code, which was to download Chrome and re-install, which I did. Chrome successfully started at end of install process.
- But when closed, and then I try to reopen, crashes. Rinse, repeat.
Chrome crashes generate DMP files found in C:Users[user]AppDataLocalGoogleChromeUser DataCrashpadreports. When viewed via WinDbg they look like:
Loading Dump File [C:Users[user]AppDataLocalGoogleChromeUser DataCrashpadreports3c33a7d6-4d8c-40a0-938b-ec207de3d5c1.dmp]
User Mini Dump File: Only registers, stack and portions of memory are available
Symbol search path is: srv*
Executable search path is:
Windows 10 Version 26200 (7623) MP (8 procs) Free x64
Product: WinNt
Edition build lab: Windows NT 10.0.26200.7623
Debug session time: Mon Feb 16 08:24:26.000 2026 (UTC - 6:00)
System Uptime: not available
Process Uptime: 0 days 0:00:01.000
................................................................
...........................................
Loading unloaded module list
.....
This dump file has a breakpoint exception stored in it.
The stored exception information can be accessed via .ecxr.
For analysis of this file, run !analyze -v
*** WARNING: Unable to verify checksum for ntdll.dll
ntdll!NtDelayExecution+0x14:
00007ffb`966c2244 c3 ret
************* Path validation summary **************
Response Time (ms) Location
OK C:Users[user]AppDataLocalGoogleChromeUser DataCrashpadreport
Per Internet guidance, I ran (as Administrator) DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth, which completed successfully, or did it? Because I then ran sfc /scannow (twice, one immediately followed by another) as Administrator and received the following output:
C:WindowsSystem32>sfc /scannow
Beginning system scan. This process will take some time.
Beginning verification phase of system scan.
Verification 100% complete.
Windows Resource Protection found corrupt files and successfully repaired them.
For online repairs, details are included in the CBS log file located at
windirLogsCBSCBS.log. For example C:WindowsLogsCBSCBS.log. For offline
repairs, details are included in the log file provided by the /OFFLOGFILE flag.
C:WindowsSystem32>sfc /scannow
Beginning system scan. This process will take some time.
Beginning verification phase of system scan.
Verification 100% complete.
Windows Resource Protection did not find any integrity violations.
C:WindowsSystem32>
I also noted the checksum warning in DMP file, which is odd since Chrome is happy to start at end of installation process with no issues. While I am not sure how/where to validate that checksum is correct, the checksum for my ntdll.dll is:
Algorithm Hash Path
--------- ---- ----
SHA256 555F029C563716E14FF3D5009B067117C9A5EBD980EBA3986FC61DAE58F3011D C:WindowsSystem32ntdll.dll
But after all of this, I then tried to open Chrome, which then crashed, and then ran installer, at which point it again opened just fine at the end of it.
So honestly not sure what to do to troubleshoot other than a blind uninstall/re-install (which worries me about losing my settings) or creating a new Chrome profile, also concerning.
