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can i completely uninstall iexplore?, I mean completely

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Short answer: you probably cannot safely “completely uninstall” Internet Explorer on any reasonably modern Windows install. IE’s rendering engine and a number of COM/DLL components were folded into the Windows shell starting with the IE4/Windows Desktop Update era, and those shell pieces became part of Windows 98/ME and later—so the OS relies on them. (ftp.zx.net.nz)

Clarifying the thread: was right that the browser became tied to the OS, but that ties into components and shared libraries rather than a literal single EXE being merged. On Windows XP you can remove newer IE upgrades (for example, uninstall IE7/IE8 to restore an earlier shipped version) using the supported uninstall paths, but the system still depends on core IE libraries and Microsoft documents repair/uninstall procedures because removing those pieces can break Windows. Follow Microsoft’s official uninstall/repair guidance rather than trying to delete DLLs by hand. ()

Practical options (what to do if you just want another browser): set your preferred browser as default and change file/URL associations; use IE only for legacy pages that require ActiveX (Windows Update, some old intranet apps). Historically Windows Update and other Microsoft web pages depended on IE/ActiveX controls, so non‑IE browsers could not run those flows; for updates use the standalone/offline installers or Microsoft Update Catalog when possible. (learn.microsoft.com)

If the goal is to remove visual traces of IE, third‑party removers (the utility mentioned is an example) exist and can strip many components, but they are risky—they can make the system unstable and are not supported by Microsoft. Before trying anything destructive: make a full disk image, export the registry, and test changes in a VM or spare machine. For most users the safer path is to hide/disable IE where supported, set a modern default browser, and keep IE present only for the legacy tasks that truly require it. (learn.microsoft.com)

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Member Avatar for Dani

If you're using Windows98 or below, yes. Otherwise, sorry you're outta luck. In their infinite wisdom, Microsoft has integrated iexplore.exe into explorer.exe, the base of the Windows operating system. What you can do, however, is set program defaults to use a 3rd party browser such as Mozilla as your default browser, instead of Internet Explorer.

Member Avatar for condorcanqui

If i have win98, how can i do it??

The problem is that if i use mozilla or other browser, they are certain websites that i wont be able to surf like if i tried to do a windows update...

Member Avatar for Dani

Windows98 doesn't have IE as integrated into it as newer operating system's do. However, it was the first Windows version to integrate IE4 with the active desktop. I remember a rather old program (it's been years and years, so it would take quite a bit of searching to do it) that was capable of downgrading IE4 to IE3 in Windows98. IE3 ran as a standalone web browser program and was not at all integrated with the OS as IE4+ is.

Member Avatar for nic_m_moon

If i have win98, how can i do it??

The problem is that if i use mozilla or other browser, they are certain websites that i wont be able to surf like if i tried to do a windows update...

OK, this is pretty simple go into uninstall programs and i believe its WIndows Components. And no you can unistall on XP, i acidently did this once.

Member Avatar for Catweazle

No, nic_m_moon, you cannot completely uninstall it on Windows XP. You can disable it, but not uninstall it. Internet Explorer shares most of its files and functions with Windows Explorer, and without that your system quite simply wouldn't even operate!

There is a 3rd Party Product, however, which will remove most of it from your system, and make your Windows XP installation appear not to have Internet Explorer installed at all:

http://www.litepc.com/xplite.html

XPLite does a much better job of removing traces from your system than the 'Add/Remove Windows Components' applet does ;)

Member Avatar for condorcanqui

thanks for the help, problem solved

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