Can I delete IE?

Heloo there lads and lassies, I was wondering if I can delete internet explorer since now I'm using Firefox and I dont see the point of IE just sitting there wasting memory. Paranoid Pains PC just got a virus because he used IE and I dont want it to happen to me. So am I able too? Im sure one of you knows, Perhaps our "tech guy" Skeptic Overlord?

Thanks
Atomix

You sure can get rid of IE, though it's a little harder now since Microsoft have made it a massive part of the OS.

I think this has been asked quite a lot, try doing a search.

Atomix,
I would guess no, as it is intergrated into the Windows o/s. What i would do is when offline (if you have broadband just unplug the cable) and then open IE and clear the history, cookies and cache.

Then just leave it 'dormant' and use Firefox only. Oh, make a note of any important passwords etc.

Sanc'.
edit:sp

[edit on 5-6-2005 by sanctum]

Do so at your own peril, I have never done this my self with Windows XP but if you don't mind messing with your computer have fun. I would not bother my self it sounds like a headach, and to ensure the functionality of programs and operating system functions that rely on it

How to Uninstall Internet Explorer 6

NOTE:

Internet Explorer 6 is preinstalled by default in all versions of Windows XP. To provide computer manufacturers greater flexibility in configuring desktop versions of Windows XP, Microsoft has made it possible for OEMs, administrators, and users to remove user access to Internet Explorer while leaving the Internet Explorer code intact and fully functional to ensure the functionality of programs and operating system functions that rely on it.

For example, Windows XP supports an "IEAccess=off" switch in the Unattend.txt file, and Internet Explorer has been added to the Add/Remove Windows Components section of the Add/Remove Programs tool in Control Panel.

For additional information on how to repair or reinstall Internet Explorer 6 on Windows XP, click the article number below to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
318378 How to Reinstall or Repair Internet Explorer and Outlook Express in Windows XP




Use the following steps to uninstall Internet Explorer 6 from a computer that is running Windows 98, Windows 98 Second Edition, Windows NT 4.0, Windows 2000, or Windows Me.

NOTE:

You must have administrative privileges to install and uninstall Internet Explorer 6 in Windows NT and Windows 2000. This includes having administrative privileges the first time you start your computer after you install or uninstall Internet Explorer 6.

1. Click Start, point to Settings, click Control Panel, and then double-click Add/Remove Programs.

2. On the Install/Uninstall tab, click Microsoft Internet Explorer 6 and Internet Tools in the list of installed programs, and then click Add/Remove.

NOTE:

Internet Explorer is not listed in the Add/Remove Programs tool if you delete the uninstall (or backup) information for the previous version of Internet Explorer.

In Windows 2000, installing a service pack also removes Internet Explorer from the Add/Remove Programs tool (but uninstalling the service pack restores Internet Explorer to the Add/Remove Programs tool).

For additional information, click the article number below to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
277624 Updated Versions of Internet Explorer Not Listed in Add/Remove Programs

NOTE:

Reinstalling a Windows 2000 service pack removes the ability to uninstall Internet Explorer. The Windows 2000 Service Pack team no longer recommends reinstalling service packs as was recommended for Windows NT 4.0 because Windows File Protection prevents corruption of system files.

If Microsoft Internet Explorer 6 and Internet Tools is missing from the list of installed programs and you did not delete the uninstall information or install (or reinstall) a Windows 2000 service pack, run Setup.exe from your Internet Explorer\Setup folder.

If you are running Windows 2000, run the w2kexcp.exe /u command from your Internet Explorer\IE Uninstall folder. If this does not work, you need to reinstall Windows.

For Windows 98 and Windows Me, renaming the Iemigrat.dll file and reinstalling Windows restores the version of Internet Explorer that was included with that version of Windows.

For Windows 2000, reinstalling Windows restores the version of Internet Explorer that was included with Windows 2000.

For Windows NT 4.0, and other versions of Windows if the above procedures are not successful, reinstall your version of Windows on an empty hard disk.

Note that you should reapply any service packs or other patches, updates, or hotfixes after you reinstall Windows.

3. Click Restore the previous Windows configuration (or click Advanced to specify any additional components you want to remove), and then click OK.

4. The Internet Explorer 6 and Internet Tools Setup dialog box appears. This portion of Setup is referred to as Maintenance mode. When Setup starts, click OK to restore the previous version of Internet Explorer and shared components.

5. You are prompted to verify that you want to restore the previous version. Click Yes to start the uninstallation process. When the uninstallation process finishes, click Restart Windows when you are prompted to do so.

For additional information about issues related to uninstalling Internet Explorer 6, click the article number below to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
296822 Windows 2000 Service Pack 2 Does Not Appear in Add/Remove Programs List

How to Repair or Return to Previous Internet Explorer Installation

If the Internet Explorer Repair Tool Verification does not work, or if Internet Explorer 5 is not listed in the Add/Remove Programs tool in Control Panel, you may be able to start the Internet Explorer Repair tool from a command prompt. To do so, click Start, click Run, and then in the Open box, type the following command, and then click OK:

NOTE: This command is case sensitive.

rundll32 setupwbv.dll,IE6Maintenance "C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\Setup\SETUP.EXE" /g "C:\WINDOWS\IE Uninstall Log.Txt"


If you need to replace a bad file from the original Internet Explorer or Windows media, use either the System File Checker (SFC) tool or the Extract tool to extract the file. For information about these tools, view the following articles in the Microsoft Knowledge Base.
System File Checker (SFC)

[edit on 5/6/2005 by Sauron]