How do you uninstall internet explorer, and reinstall [an earlier] version? Options

[Hunter]

How do you uninstall internet explorer and reinstall [an earlier] version?

You have two choices: The first is recommended and instructions are given. At the end of these instructions is your other option...third party software. Other people have used it very successfully...I've never had to uninstall IE so I haven't personally tried it.



UNINSTALLING
Internet Explorer

Thanks to Bill Gaston:

Why it may not work as expected or even if an option exist to uninstalled in the Windows Add/Remove Programs:
because of out-of-date, deleted, or corrupted Internet Explorer files
the initial Internet Explorer Setup process failed
download(s) was/were not complete or the server connection timed out when installing
When uninstalling Internet Explorer 6 on earlier versions of Windows which had Internet Explorer installed, the computer is usually restored to that version. However, in WinXP a restore to a previous version is not possible since Internet Explorer 6.0 is an integral part of the operating system -- same thing with v5 for Win9x and WinME. Generally when an uninstall process fails, the most important troubleshooting tool is whether there is an uninstall log such as the IE6 Uninstall Log.txt file located in the Windows folder.

The first suggestion when any of the problems above exist is to attempt a repair of the version of Internet Explorer used (Start, Settings, Control Panel, Add/Remove Programs, click the version of IE used, Add/Remove, Repair Internet Explorer). If the Repair tool detects an error, it might generate the following error message or one similar:

Internet Explorer cannot be repaired. Please reinstall Internet Explorer x (where x represents the IE version)
If you receive an error message, it is recommended that Internet Explorer be reinstalled. To read a description of the problem, click the Details (should one be displayed). For example, you might receive the following types of explanations:
Internet Explorer cannot be repaired due to the following errors: File name is missing
Internet Explorer cannot be repaired due to the following errors: Version (something) of file name exists but needs to be greater than (something)
The version number listed for a file is the minimum version required by Internet Explorer ?. If no version number is associated with a file, the Repair tool verifies the existence of the file but not its version.
If it is though that the IE Setup process failed, use the Windows Find function and see if you can locate any of the following files, (depending on the version of IE used) and open any found in NotePad:
Active Setup Log.txt - Contains a log of the setup process from the moment IE6Setup.exe is executed until the last .cab file is downloaded. When IE6Setup.exe is executed, Active Setup Log.txt is created in the folder where Windows is installed (typically, C:\Windows or C:\Winnt). If a file Active Setup Log.txt from a previous Internet Explorer setup session exists, it is renamed to Active Setup Log.bak.
SetupAPI.log - After Active Setup is completed, Acme Setup starts for all installations except Windows XP and Windows 2000, which have .inf file-based installations. These operating systems use SetupAPI and log installation information in the file SetupAPI.log. On other Windows 32-bit platforms, Acme Setup unpacks the individual .cab files and copies the files to their appropriate locations.
IE Setup Log.txt - Log of the Acme Setup steps.
RunOnceEx Log.txt - In Win9x and WinNT 4.0, the file RunOnceEx Log.txt records the files that Setup registers during the final restart of your computer. RunOnceEx Log.txt contains two sections. The first section contains a copy of the registry section that Setup is modifying with Internet Explorer 6 registration information. Specifically, it logs information about the settings of the current browser prior to the installation of Internet Explorer. The second section contains the file registration information that Setup will add when it processes the RunOnceEx section of the registry during the first restart of the computer.
It has been reported that when IE services packs have been installed, IE may not be listed in the Windows Add/Remove Programs tool. Uninstalling any service packs first will generally restores IE to the Add/Remove Programs tool. If no service packs have been installed, it has been suggested to run the Setup.exe program again from the Internet Explorer\Setup folder.
Two additional things to look for:
Search for the file, "Fixie.inf" which should be in the folder, C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer. If it is missing and you can acquire a copy, this may fix the unable to repair anomaly.
There may be files named, "Fix IE Log.txt" or "IE Setup Log.txt", which may be searched down and read. Either or both of these file may give further details of the anomaly cause.
For Win98 and WinME, rename the Iemigrat.dll file and reinstall Windows to restore the version of Internet Explorer applicable to the version of Windows used.
Supplemental reading: (Clicking a links opens it in a separate window for your convenience. Clicking a second link also opens it in that same one)
"How to Uninstall Internet Explorer 5 (Q217344)."
"Error Message: A Previous Program Installation Was Never Completed (Q221863)."
"How to Manually Remove Programs from the Add/Remove Programs List (Q247501)."
"Download-Only Setup of Internet Explorer on Windows 2000 and Windows XP (Q257249)."
"How to Uninstall Internet Explorer 6 (Q293907)."
"HOW TO: Add Components and Programs to a Computer in Windows XP (Q305548)."
I don't recommend going to this extent, but the choice is yours IEradicator 2001 .
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