Thank you for being a valued part of the CNET community. As of December 1, 2020, the forums are in read-only format. In early 2021, CNET Forums will no longer be available. We are grateful for the participation and advice you have provided to one another over the years.

Thanks,

CNET Support

General discussion

it's possible to uninstall IE?

Nov 18, 2005 6:00AM PST

How?

she asked, drooling at the very idea

Discussion is locked

- Collapse -
Yes you can uninstall IE but be VERY SURE you want to
Nov 18, 2005 9:37AM PST

Even MozillaZine recommends that you not uninstall IE because so many websites and programs require it.

But if you really really want to do it litepc is a good place to start

It is NOT newbie friendly though

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

- Collapse -
thanks
Nov 18, 2005 12:18PM PST

Yes, I realize it's probably not a good idea. I know I can't uninstall it on our main computer. We homeschool, and the software we use for 2 of the 4 main subjects requires IE, so my son wouldn't be able to do school if I uninstalled it. Shh, I better not tell him, he'd be all for not having to do LA and History anymore!

As for my laptop, I had a couple of weeks where it seemed like a popup would show up every 5 min. or less, in an IE window, even though I never use IE, only Firefox. I had popup blockers installed in both IE and Firefox, I went into the preferences of IE and disabled every type of script I could find, and I even finally used my firewall to block IE's access to the internet! The popups still kept happening, but one day I installed the new Yahoo toolbar for Firefox, which comes with an AntiSpy program. That's what seems to have finally done the trick.

But if it happens again, I have bookmarked the link you posted, I'll save it in case I get desperate Happy

- Collapse -
Y Bother?
Nov 18, 2005 10:20PM PST

Dude, don't waste Ur time uninstalling it...just don't use it. Even with the superiorty of Firefox (and the now FREE and under-rated Opera) a lot of the sh*t out there on the 'Net caters to IE and U may not B able 2 view/enjoy certain aspects of sites U visit.

In other words don't throw out your pocket knife just to get a 9mm...U never know when the 9mm is gonna jam-up on ya...comprende? Happy

Plus, Emporer B. Gates will send his Goons to get ya if U unistall IE...LOL

Good Luck to ya

- Collapse -
here's why
Nov 21, 2005 1:50AM PST

I was very frustrated for awhile with pop-ups. Even though I only use Firefox, I would be interrupted by popups in IE windows, even when I didn't have Firefox open. I had a pop-up blocker installed in both browsers, but there was some kind of malware attacking me that I couldn't figure out how to get rid of. Finally, I installed the Yahoo toolbar for Firefox, the most recent version of which comes with an anti-spy program that seems to have finally gotten rid of the problem. Before that I went into my firewall and blocked IE from accessing the internet, but I'd still get the pop-ups, only the windows would be empty. But they'd still come up and make me lose keystrokes, and eat memory. I couldn't find a solution anywhere, but at the time I thought if I could uninstall IE that would take care of it. I'd go into the Task Manager and see IE open even though I didn't open it . . . grr!

- Collapse -
spyware problems?
Nov 21, 2005 2:26AM PST

tried d/ling some anti-spyware progs? you probably have some spyware causing those popups automatically. i dont advise uninstalling IE cuz i'm sure you're gonna have some computer issues if you do. some programs require it to run. do what you will. good luck

- Collapse -
spyware
Nov 21, 2005 10:16AM PST

I had tried several spyware programs. Finally the one that comes with Yahoo toolbar was the one that took care of it. As of now I'm not planning to uninstall IE unless the popups come back. Thanks for your help.