Uninstalling Internet Explorer: Difference between revisions

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This [http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;318378 Microsoft support article] discusses how to repair or reinstall Internet Explorer 6, if needed.   
This [http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;318378 Microsoft support article] discusses how to repair or reinstall Internet Explorer 6, if needed.   
===If Internet Explorer 7 Beta is installed===
===If Internet Explorer 7 Beta is installed===
If Internet Explorer 7 Beta is installed, you must uninstall it before reinstalling or updating to a higher version.  Removing Internet Explorer 7 Beta will restore Internet Explorer 6.  
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
*Click your Start button, then go to Control Panel
*Go to Add or Remove Programs
*Go to Add or Remove Programs

Revision as of 13:43, 17 August 2006

Impacts of removing Internet Explorer from Windows

You are advised not to uninstall Internet Explorer, because:

  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.

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 -> and Now Internet Explorer has been partially uninstalled.

Uninstall Internet Explorer completely

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.

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.