Does our computer need Internet Explorer for anything other than a web browser ?

[Kath]

[Dean]

no. but you need one browser. chrome is good

[Xyso]

Hi,

You can 'remove' Internet Explorer from your computer but it does little more than remove the shortcut icon.

If you remember way back when, this was the subject of some of Microsoft's trouble with the law.

Netscape Navigator and Internet Explorer were pretty well the only browsers around.

Well, Netscape Navigator wasn't free. It was a separate program that ran around $30.

Microsoft was including Internet Explorer with all versions of Windows for free.

Netscape didn't like this so they sued Microsoft saying they were using unfair business practices.

Microsoft responded by integrating a lot of files that had to be present for both Windows AND Internet Explorer to operate correctly.

So they told the court that Internet Explorer could not be removed or else Windows itself wouldn't work.

It's still pretty much that way.

Did you ever notice how long it takes to install Internet Explorer 10?

It's downloading a ton of files not only for the browser itself, but many files to make changes to Windows system files as well.

Now, I assume you want to uninstall it.

You can't do it through the normal "Add/Remove Programs" or Windows 7's "Uninstall a program" in the Control Panel. It's not listed as a normal installed program.

Instead, Windows considers it an "update" and that's where you have to remove it.

Here's how you do it:

1) Click the Start orb then select Control Panel

2) In 'Category' view, click 'Uninstall a program' ('Programs and Features' if in 'Icon' view)

3) On the left, click on 'View installed updates'

4) Scroll down (sometimes way down) until you find Internet Explorer 8, 9, 10, or 11.

5) Uninstalling one at a time, if you have more than 1, select it and click 'Uninstall' at the top.

That's it.

You have to keep an eye on Windows Update though.

Because since Microsoft chooses to call Internet Explorer an 'Update", guess what?

If your Windows Update runs automatically, Internet Explorer will get installed again without your permission.

If so, just remove it again and go to Windows Update settings (Start orb > All programs > Windows Update) and click 'Check for Updates'.

After it runs for what seems like hours, it will show a list of what it intends to install.

If a version of Internet Explorer is among the list, right-click it and select "Hide update'.

Simply removing the checkmark instead of 'hiding' it will only stop it temporarily, since the next time it runs, it will select it again.

Good luck with it.

At your service,
Hugh


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[Geeta]

No it doesn't. But do install a Browser before uninstalling it.

[deboerdn2000]

no but its basically impossible to remove because its so ingrained into windows now that. in the xp windows updates actually needed internet explorer. if you just want to hide it away you should just delete the shortcuts to it.