BleepingComputer.com: Why cant I remove internet explorer from my computer?

It is the only program in the add remove programs list that I do not have the option to remove. How remove this? Someone on this site suggested running opera and firefox. I am now running IE 7 and firefox. I use favorites a lot and click on a lot of links that IE doesnt allow for some reason. I also watch the stock market closely so I am looking for a browser that would work well with alot of refreshing. Thank you in advance for your help. Greatly appreciated.

IE is integrated with Windows, you cannot remove it. It is needed for various functions of Windows itself.

Opera is a very safe browser. Actually, there are fewer exploits found in Opera compared to even Firefox. You can use Opera or Firefox, both are great browsers. One advantage of using Firefox is that you can download addons of many types.

Good news: in windows7 it is possible to remove IE

You can uninstall IE7 (in add/remove programs put a checkmark in show updates (right top corner). Now you will find IE7 in the list. However, now your IE will be back to 6. You can hide/deactivate your IE 6 by clicking in add/remove programs the add/remove windows components button. Just uncheck IE6 in this list, click next/ok/finish whatever and it will not show in your startmenu etc anymore.

However, I recommend keeping one version or the other of IE6 (personally have IE8, is fastest), because microsoft update needs it.

elise025, on Apr 29 2009, 05:07 AM, said:

Windows Vista comes with IE7 pre-installed, you cannot remove IE7 in it. It is assumed that you are talking about XP or earlier versions.

chugg didnt say which version of Windows he/she is running.

Stofzuiger said:

Not completely.

What is possible is actually removing IE binary iexplore.exe and related files. But then that is possible in Windows XP, Vista, and 7. Look at the picture attached which I took from XP. Same is possible in Vista and 7.

But not all of IE is removed, as it is needed for various functions of Windows. Only IE browser executable would be removed.



You can get to this dialog from Add/Remove Programs - > Add Remove Windows Components.

This post has been edited by Romeo29: 29 April 2009 - 08:58 AM

Sorry, my post goes only for XP.

Interesting, so its plain bullcrap that "we can finally remove IE" as Microsoft announced?

Interesting, so its plain bullcrap that "we can finally remove IE" as Microsoft announced?