How To Remove Internet Explorer

Since the Internet Explorer browser comes preinstalled on most personal computers, people who want to use a different browser are asking the same question as the Department of Justice: How hard is it to remove Internet Explorer from the computer?

The judge in the Microsoft case said he conducted his own test last December, and removed it in minutes. Microsoft attorneys noted at the time that the judge had, in fact, merely deleted a few files without removing all of the software.

Throughout the course of its recent anti-trust hearings, Microsoft maintained that Internet Explorer cannot be removed without "crippling" the Windows 95 operating system. Strictly speaking, the software giant is right.

Microsoft's browser draws on many resources imbedded in the Windows 95 operating system. Getting rid of all of the files related to Internet Explorer would disable Windows 95, and cripple other services that rely on those files, such as the Microsoft Network, America Online, Microsoft Office, Lotus Notes, and Intuit's Quicken.

This is particularly true for the latest version of the browser, IE 4.0.

But there are three ways to remove chunks of Internet Explorer and ensure that you can use the browser you want, not the one Microsoft wants.

Below, we've laid out the steps for three levels of action: Simply removing the IE icon; resetting your computer so that another browser becomes the default program; and removing the Internet Explorer core program.

If you're a contented user of Internet Explorer, read no further. The following is for those who'd prefer to use a different browser, and don't want unused software cluttering up their hard drives.

Kill The Icon

This technique doesn't get rid of Internet Explorer at all. It simply removes the icon from your computer's desktop. That leaves the software on your hard drive but kills the shortcut to the program.

Usually, the icon can be removed simply by clicking on it and dragging it to the "Recycling Bin," or right-clicking on the icon and choosing "Delete." Empty the Recycling Bin, and you're done.

If this doesn't work, you'll likely need a software package called Tweak UI, downloadable from Ziff-Davis' Hot Files Web site.

First, install the program. It will help you "tweak" the appearance of your desktop, including purging the sometimes stubborn Internet Explorer and Microsoft Network icons.

Your Default Of Choice

If you're a user of Netscape's Navigator or one of the new browsers like Opera, you'll likely want to make sure that your browser of choice is the default browser.

Like icon removal, this procedure is fairly easy. If you're a Netscape user, simply download and install the latest version of Netscape Communicator. This should automatically set Netscape as your default browser. The same is trufor the latest version of Opera.

To manually set a browser as your default, first enter Microsoft Explorer (by clicking on the Start button in the Programs section). From there, click on View, then click on Options from the top menu bar. You should see a window which offers a choice of View or File Types.

Select File Types to edit the types of files, and associate your desired browser with a given file. Find the file types marked "Internet Shortcut" and "URL: Hyper Text Transfer Protocol." In each of these file types, click Edit, then click Edit again on the next window. Then use the Browse button to find your browser program, typically located under Program Files, followed by the name of your browser program, like Netscape or Opera.

For those who'd like to kill off the IE program itself, read on. But first a caveat:

Before Beginning, Back Up

Before tinkering with your computer system, it's a good idea to back up all the information on your computer. This means all of your personal files, work-related information, and other items you may need at a moment's notice.

Also make sure you have a copy of your operating system in case you need to reinstall it.

And, don't forget to make an emergency boot disk should you damage your system beyond repair.

While this sounds dire, don't lose heart. When it comes to your data, the best defense is thorough preparation.

Risky Removal

Here's why you made all those backups: users and computer manufacturers have had mixed results in removing various versions of Internet Explorer from their hard drives, so be sure you protect your essential information in advance.

Here's how to do it: With Windows 95 and most versions of Internet Explorer, you can kill the Internet Explorer program in one fell swoop.

Simply go into Add/Remove Programs, select Internet Explorer, and delete it. This doesn't remove all the IE files, but it deletes most of them.

For earlier versions (3.0) of IE, you can also manually search for and destroy the file called "iexplore.exe," usually found in the Program FilesPlus!Microsoft Internet directory.

This kills the file that drives Internet Explorer, but leaves the files it shares with Windows 95 intact.

Some users of Internet Explorer 4.0 have reported mixed experiences with the manual method, so keep those backup and operating system disks handy. If you encounter problems, you may have to reinstall Windows 95.

Good News for New Computers

If you bought your computer in the past month or so, removing Internet Explorer is easier than ever, according to computer manufacturers.

If your Internet Explorer version is 4.01, and you have the latest version of Windows 95, removing Internet Explorer should be as easy as using the "Add/Remove Programs" tool, found in the "Control Panel" (off of the "Settings" menu available from the "Start" button.)

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Written by Sean Wolfe with graphics by Jerry Donnelly