Disposing of Internet Explorer

General Topics
1

I have a Sony laptop running Wondows Home Vista Premium.

Since I never use IE (am Firefox user), I would like to know how to clear it from my system so that IE Updates are stopped too. Of course I need to maintain Windows security updates.

Any tips on a safe way to clear it?

2

Hmmm… IE is so bundled inside of the OS that I won’t trust completely in uninstalling it without side effects.
I think the safer is just let it there and keep your OS updated.

3

Reply Tech

That is what I feared. Thanks.

4

Wait for March MIX10…Microsoft is going to show IE 9 demos… :stuck_out_tongue:

5

All,

What propmpted my enquiry was an article today: “From next week, if you’re a user of Internet Explorer in Europe you may be asked to choose whether you’d prefer another browser.” See http://tinyurl.com/yc5htpc .

You’d think that if Microsoft is actaully inviting people not to use its IE, then they should send an update able to deinstal it completely?

6

There are actually people that enjoy using IE. :slight_smile:

7

Originally that is what MS were saying they were going to do sod the EU we will remove IE completely in your versions of the OS. Then a reality check occurred, IE is so embedded into the OS that it would require a major OS rewrite to replace all functions that use IE in the OS, Windows Explorer uses it to display the folder structure, Help files use it, some of the MS email clients use it to display email previews, etc.

So what they came up with to placate the EU was the polling idea which if you didn’t select IE for your browser there would be no access to the IE browser iexplore.exe, but IE is still embedded into the OS. So you have to keep it up to date.

8

As some people have already written, unfortunately, IE is embedded deeply in Windows, which makes it an easy target to malcreants. So, it would be suitable for us to put it under surveillance of our Firewall and/or HIPS rather than trying to uninstall it, which is, IMO, only practical solution for this “issue.”

9

Gotcha. Thanks one and all.

10

Agreed Bob, I’m one of them.

But, for those that don’t, In Win 7 you can turn it off.

11

Especially since there are Windows programs (even non-MS) that use Internet Explorer as a default browser, and/or use the Internet Explorer engine to display their interface or content.

Using Win XP Pro SP3 on three systems, and use IE 8 only for few sites (which I’ve added the IE’s Trusted sites zone) that require IE. Have the Internet and Local Internet sites zones set to HIGH, and tweaked the Trusted sites settings.

12

Hi Jon_T,

Found this information for you:

Prior to Windows XP, you could physically remove IE from a computer (though it wasn't always easy), but with XP, to satisfy various antitrust rulings, Microsoft changed this while making it easy to "disable" IE without actually removing any of the files it uses. Why? Because all sorts of programs and OS functions use various pieces of IE. Deleting the files that comprise it, as you mentioned late in your message, is actually quite dangerous to your computer's stability.

If you want a minimal trace of IE on your machine, go into the Add or Remove Programs control panel and click on “Add/Remove Windows Components,” on the left side of the screen. Scroll down to Internet Explorer and uncheck it. (It will say the option is 0KB in size; this is normal, since, as described above, you aren’t deleting any actual files, just making them invisible as a web browsing system. See screenshot for how this looks.) After this, IE won’t show up in any menus or on your desktop, and it won’t ever launch as a web browser. (You can still use IE Tab if you need IE’s rendering system. To reinstall IE, just reverse the process above and recheck the box.)

But I would advise against this because of the security and stability of the OS a fully updated and patched IE is a necessity, on the other hand consider this news: http://www.theregister.co.uk/2010/02/26/microsoft_vista_xp_2000/
So users will only be fully secure beyond April on Windows7, as MS wants to forget about the unsuccessful Vista and with it XP as soon as possible, but the skeletons of the past are still hunting them:
http://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=56354.msg475622#msg475622

polonus

13

That Register article is VERY misleading. They are only withdrawing support for XP SP2 and Vista with NO service packs applied. Support for XP SP3 and Vista even with the SP1 issued very early in Vista’s life will be supported for several years yet.

But as stated, do not uninstall IE, just live with it lying dormant on your machine.

14

@ davews

IE is never dormant as it is part of Windows.

It is used in Windows GUI dispaly even for Windows Explorer.

In IE type C: in the address area.

That will take you to Windows Explorer to display the contents of the C: hard drive.

Read about Windows Explorer:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windows_Explorer

Long live XP SP3 :wink:

15

I use Firefox… but there are some times when one goes to a website that doesn’t seem to shape up quite well until one views it in IE. Therefore I have the IE addon for Firefox. :wink:

16

@ Omega40 and Jon_T

Go to PROFILE then Modify Profile then Forum Profile Information then Signature: and put information about your system just like my signature as that helps the helpers offer pertinent advice when you have a problem.