Smart notebook ".notebook" files open in chrome instead of Smart notebook.

[sraper]

On 21/10/2025 at 09:13, kidpressingbuttons said:

They dont seem to be rushing to release a new version. My tickets keep getting closed so not hopeful for a quick resolution....

Just spoke to someone I know who do a lot of business with SMART installing the boards and their brief summary was

 

Quote

known issue, found the fix, working on testing before releasing an update

 

So finger crossed that there will be some good news soon

[5nowman]

On 21/10/2025 at 09:13, kidpressingbuttons said:

They dont seem to be rushing to release a new version. My tickets keep getting closed so not hopeful for a quick resolution....

"we are aware of the issue. issue will be fixed in the next update"  right?

 

I think they are under stress too.

I have users opening a third notebook document and it crashes smart notebook.

 

 

[GeeMan]

Just thought I would add to this in the hope of expediting a fix from Smart. Our school district is having the same problem. When trying to open a Smart Notebook file from Google Drive instead of opening in Smart Notebook, as it always has, it now downloads the file using chromium (not chrome) which is being launched by Smart Notebook as it is not installed on the computers. It will also sometimes crash after doing this download a few times. It is also random / intermittent - it does not happen all the time, and will do it for a file one day and then the same file another day will open fine.

[cstreet]

On 09/10/2025 at 14:22, cstreet said:

+1 !!

 

We've just pushed Notebook v25.0 to one of our schools and multiple teachers have reported the opening with Chrome thing. We have Windows 10 + Sophos + Smoothwall Webfilter Appliance + Classroom.Cloud + Microsoft Office 365 Apps

 

It's intermittent for us. On a fresh reboot of a laptop, the program functions fine as expected.

 

Teacher showed me that they could trigger the issue on purpose at the end of the day - laptop been on for a while - then try opening Notebook documents until it triggers. After about 3-4 docs open, SMART threw an error up and then started opening with Chrome then downloading a copy of the document. Sometimes happens on a fresh reboot too apparently but we couldn't replicate this at the time.

On a refresh reboot of a modern laptop recently deployed with fresh Windows, the issue doesn't occur and Smart Notebooks open fine. We opened about 12 docs and it kept going! It seems to occur after the laptops have been on for a while, or something else triggering it in the background. Another app open perhaps.

 

Not worked it out fully yet but we're looking at if we can just jump back to v24 anyway until it's solved.

 

Workaround suggested at the moment it that when we close all other Notebook documents, wait 30 seconds, then start again, they open fine. (shrug)

 

 

We were running v21 before and needed to update the drivers for newer panels so went for latest, why not!

 

Confirming that to resolve the issue on this post, we rolled back to v24. This meant sending an uninstall of v25 to SCCM deployment, then setting up a new v24 deployment and pushing at the same time. SCCM seems to process the uninstall first luckily and then the v24 can install. A little messy but worked for our teachers who confirm that the issue is gone in v24 and everything else seems to work.

When a working version of v25 is release later, we'll plan to update to v25. Probably not until next year now so as not to upset our teaching staff any more!

 

[mavhc]

Isn't the obvious culprit the "Notebook Chromium Helper"?

[sraper]

2 hours ago, mavhc said:

Isn't the obvious culprit the "Notebook Chromium Helper"?

One would think!

[d.sullivan]

Update: a complete windows reinstall hasn't resolved this issue. 

[d.sullivan]

On 20/10/2025 at 09:26, sraper said:

Argh!   Anyone know if there is a fix for this yet.

 

Have numerous staff at a number of schools suffering with this 

 

[edit]  just had a thought would uninstalling Chrome be a workaround 🤣

tried that, but then it opened chromium (a version of chrome that seems to be intergrated into smart notebook) and downloaded the file anyway 

[d.sullivan]

On 21/10/2025 at 09:13, kidpressingbuttons said:

They dont seem to be rushing to release a new version. My tickets keep getting closed so not hopeful for a quick resolution....

I've just had a phone class with their support. unfortunatley, they don't have any contact  or links with the development team. So they have no idea what the ETA is for the next version to be released. 

 

but he did email me this, which may help for now: 

 

How to fix the issue if it happens persistently:

* Close any running instances of SMART Notebook.

* Open Windows Task Manager (type Task Manager on the Windows Start menu search bar), and navigate to the Details tab on the left.

* Check to see if there are any running instances of Notebook Chromium Helper.exe . If there are, end these processes.

* Open Windows Explorer. On the center path bar, paste: %TEMP%\SMART Technologies\SMART Notebook\TempFiles

** Find a file called CEF and delete it

* Restart the computer

 

Prevent the issue from happening by following these tips:

* Avoid launching multiple instances of Notebook if possible

* After closing Notebook, wait approximately 30 seconds before reopening

** This issue can happen if you open one Notebook window and close it immediately.

 

[mavhc]

26 minutes ago, d.sullivan said:

I've just had a phone class with their support. unfortunatley, they don't have any contact  or links with the development team. So they have no idea what the ETA is for the next version to be released. 

How is this even a thing? The reason you need support is the software is bad, how can they improve the software if they're hiding from their customers?

 

Let's check glassdoor:

Cons:

Software product does not have a long term vision or goal, often chasing competitors rather than finding their niche. Product often creates features that aren't addressing real user problems - they are designing based on competitors or perceived added value. The last year was in flux in terms of team structure and processes which slowed down development. Management wants input on many software features and will listen to external teams (eg: sales, customer support) over the product team.

[GeeMan]

On 03/11/2025 at 14:01, cstreet said:

 

We were running v21 before and needed to update the drivers for newer panels so went for latest, why not!

 

Confirming that to resolve the issue on this post, we rolled back to v24. 

 

 

I also have done this roll back from V25 to V24 for a couple of teachers and so far so good.

[5nowman]

5 minutes ago, GeeMan said:

 

I also have done this roll back from V25 to V24 for a couple of teachers and so far so good.

I went to 22, teacher tested it and worked fine.

v25 crashed alot too. working with smart.

[mila]

I`m here too, those blooming update buttons teased me, gone back to v24 so far so good

[d.sullivan]

went back to version 24, the issue has gone, but another issue has arisen. Sometimes when you use the pen, then use your finger again, you can't select a certain slide on the left hand side without restarting the software.