Smart Computing Article - Uninstall Internet Explorer 7

Subscribe Today | Contact Us | Register Now

Home | Tech Support | Q&A Board | Article Search | Subscribe & Shop

Uninstall Internet Explorer 7

Email This

Print This
View My Personal Library

Computers & Electronics May 2007 • Vol.18 Issue 5 Page(s) 38 in print issue	Add To My Personal Library
Uninstall Internet Explorer 7 Return To IE6 On Windows XP Machines

If you’re using Windows XP SP2 (Service Pack 2), there’s a good chance you’re also using Internet Explorer 7 (free; www.microsoft.com/windows/downloads/ie), the latest version of Microsoft’s venerable browser. You’re likely using IE7 because Microsoft made it a high-priority update via its Automatic Updates utility upon the browser’s release in October 2006. That high-priority status came thanks to several security improvements that IE7 offers over IE6, and many Windows users downloaded IE7 based on Microsoft’s prodding.

Just because Microsoft suggested downloading IE7 and you did, doesn’t mean you have to keep it. In fact, many WinXP users who favor IE6 and who weren’t keen on the radical facelift Microsoft gave IE7’s interface have since reverted to using IE6. Other users switched back to IE6 based on reasons unrelated to IE7’s new design, including conflicts they experienced between IE7 and other programs.

Once you’ve instigated the process of removing Internet Explorer from your system, the Internet Explorer Removal Wizard will walk you through the remaining steps.

This last scenario is one several Smart Computing readers have actually reported to Smart Computing Technical Support Center technicians. In one case, conflicts were detected between IE7 and Symantec’s Norton Internet Security suite. In another case, a reader installed IE7 but couldn’t open Web pages afterward. In yet another situation, IE7 installed on a reader’s system but without the Address Bar intact. The typical approach to solving such problems in order to keep using IE7 is attempting to uninstall and then reinstall IE7. Some users who’ve tried this by using the Add Or Remove Programs utility, however, have reported problems completing the uninstall. Others have reported problems successfully reinstalling IE7, even after multiple attempts.

For this article, we’ll assume you’re a WinXP user who wants to uninstall IE7 in order to revert to using IE6. If, however, you’re experiencing trouble with IE7 but want to keep using it, the Microsoft Developers Network site (msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/ie/aa740486.aspx) has information concerning known IE7 issues and incompatibilities. Otherwise, the following are two methods for removing IE7 that will trigger Windows to automatically reload IE6.

If you're unable to remove Internet Explorer 7 using Add Or Remove Programs, typing the %windir%\ie7\spuninst\spuninst.exe command in the Run dialog box should open the IE7 Removal Wizard to carry out the process.

Running Windows without any version of IE installed isn’t advisable due to IE’s tight integration with Windows.

Two Solutions

There are two primary methods for uninstalling IE7, for both of which the Microsoft Knowledge Base article #927177 contains details. The first method involves using Add Or Remove Programs. Before using the utility, however, Smart Computing’s technicians advise to first download and install a second browser, such as Mozilla’s Firefox (www.firefox.com), in case the uninstall process misfires and you’re left without a functioning browser. Additionally, back up your data and create a System Restore point (open the Start menu, go to All Programs, Accessories, System Tools, and click System Restore).

Next, in Add Or Remove Programs, scroll to the Windows Internet Explorer 7 entry (you may need to select the Show Updates option at top) and click Remove. Follow the instructions in the Internet Explorer 7 Removal Wizard that displays. Click Finish, and Windows will restart your system with IE6 ready upon reboot.

If this solution doesn't work, using IE7's uninstaller file may do the trick. To undertake this process, you’ll need to be able to view hidden folders. To turn this option on, open Windows Explorer (click Start, go to All Programs, Accessories, and Windows Explorer), click Tools, and then select Folder Options. On the View tab, go to the Advanced Settings pane and click Show Hidden Files And Folders. Click OK. Next, click Start, select Run, type %windir%\ie7\spuninst\ spuninst. exe, and click OK. This should open the Internet Explorer 7 Removal Wizard. Follow the instructions described in the previous paragraph, and IE6 should reload upon rebooting.

by Blaine A. Flamig

Want more information about a topic you found of interest while reading this article? Type a word or phrase that identifies the topic and click "Search" to find relevant articles from within our editorial database.

Home Copyright & Legal Information Privacy Policy Site Map Contact Us