Internet Explorer

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Revision as of 22:28, 11 September 2006 by Alice Wyman (talk | contribs) (merging - see Talk:Uninstalling Internet Explorer)
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Internet Explorer is the most widely-used web browser and it is included as part of the Microsoft Windows operating system. Mozilla browsers such as Firefox have recently gained significant popularity over Internet Explorer, one probable reason being the publicity generated by Internet Explorer security flaws. Also, some appreciate what they see as the greater simplicity and efficiency of Firefox. Others continue to support Internet Explorer because certain sites, especially those dependent on Microsoft's ActiveX technology, reject all browsers except Internet Explorer. Some of these sites can be visited anyway via user agent spoofing, if a Mozilla browser extension such as user agent switcher is used.

If you no longer wish to use Internet Explorer

The easiest route would be to make your Mozilla browser the default browser and simply stop using Internet Explorer. You can also consider these other options:

Remove Internet Explorer from Windows

Although uninstalling Internet Explorer from Windows is possible, you are advised not to remove IE for a number of reasons:

  1. Many web sites are programmed to work only with Internet Explorer. For example, webmasters authoring a site may have not tested with other web browsers. The majority of websites on the Internet should work with Mozilla browsers, but there are some sites that appear distorted or inaccessible unless IE is used as a browser.
  2. Windows Update requires Internet Explorer. As an alternative, you may be able to manually download security updates, but it will require more monitoring and work than letting Windows Update handle this for you.
  3. Some anti-virus products require IE for updates. Live updates or automatic DAT updates used by both Norton and McAfee are built on Internet Explorer's foundation. You may be able to manually update your virus signature files but it could require more work.
  4. Both removing and restoring IE is risky and difficult. IE is complex with extensive hooks built into Windows, for efficiency and functionality. Thus unplugging it from your system may impact Internet connectivity, Windows functionality, and break functionality in Microsoft Office and non-MS products.
  5. IE is more than a browser, it is the foundation for Internet functionality in Windows.

If, despite this advice, you would still like to uninstall IE, then LitePC is a good place to start. LitePC or any other third-party program that removes IE is most definitely not recommended for novice users. However, instead of uninstalling IE, you should consider alternatives such as making IE more secure, or hiding Internet Explorer

Secure Internet Explorer

  • Open Internet Explorer
  • Go to Tools | Internet Options... | Security
  • Set the security level for all zones except trusted sites to high
  • Set the security level for trusted sites to medium
  • While the trusted sites zone is selected, click on the Sites... button
  • Uncheck Require server verification (https:) for all sites in this zone
  • Add:
    • http://*.update.microsoft.com
    • https://*.update.microsoft.com
    • http://download.windowsupdate.com

With only the above three sites in the trusted sites zone, the trusted sites zone set to medium security, and all other zones set to high security, Internet Explorer is as secure as it can be while still leaving Windows Update functional. To be as safe as possible, use Internet Explorer only when absolutely necessary. IE generally has known highly critical security vulnerabilities, and even well-known sites can contain exploits that a fully patched version of Internet Explorer is vulnerable to. In addition to securing Internet Explorer, you may also want to hide the icon as described in the next section.

Hide the Internet Explorer icon from the desktop

Right-click on the Desktop -> click Properties -> Desktop -> Customize Desktop -> Desktop Icons -> Internet Explorer <uncheck this

Another way (in Windows XP, possibly different for other versions of windows) Start -> Set Program Access and Defaults -> Add/Remove Windows Components -> Uncheck Internet Explorer -> Click Next. Now Internet Explorer has been partially uninstalled.

How to repair or reinstall Internet Explorer

This Microsoft support article discusses how to repair or reinstall Internet Explorer 6, if needed.

If Internet Explorer 7 Beta is installed

You must uninstall Internet Explorer 7 Beta before reinstalling or updating to a higher version. Removing Internet Explorer 7 Beta will restore Internet Explorer 6.

  • Click your Start button, then go to Control Panel
  • Go to Add or Remove Programs
  • Go to Change or Remove Programs and make sure "Show updates" is checked.
    • If you are running Internet Explorer 7 Beta 2 Preview or a later version, it is no longer necessary to check "Show updates."
  • Scroll down on the list and highlight the version of Internet Explorer 7 Beta that you are running.
  • Click "Remove" to uninstall. [1]

See the Release Notes for Internet Explorer 7 Beta for additional information.