UPDATE: Yes running as admin allows you to set it as default.
There are a couple of odd things about Google's first beta release of its new web browser, Chrome.
Firstly, why does it install to C:\Users\<USERNAME>\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\Application ?
Secondly it is not able to assert itself as the default browser in Vista.
If you go to tools > options in Chrome you see the following button to make Chrome your default browser.
This button did its job on my XP box but on my Vista box I received the following:
Fortunately, Microsoft shipped Vista with a built in tool for managing your default applications. However, Chrome does not appear in the list of programs and you cannot browse for it:
Next stop, 'Set file associations'. From here I was able to set windows to open .htm and .html files with Chrome:
However, when it came to setting a protocol such as http and https, there was again no option to browse for an application:
I also tried running Chrome as Admin and hitting the button and copying the app to program files, just in case windows would find it and place it in the programs list. No joy with this so far, but hey, things like this are what you expect with beta software. Knowing Google, it will stay in Beta for a few years just to abstain them from any responsibility.
Apart from this I am enjoying the browser more than I thought I would. Its far from innovative, but it is well made. Its really quick, I like that tabs run in separate processes and the search and find features are unoriginal but well done.
I will just wait for another release to solve the default issue, let me know if anyone finds a solution.