96DXCivic
96DXCivic Dork
3/29/10 6:52 p.m.

Is there any way to remove internet explorer from your computer?

VanillaSky
VanillaSky Reader
3/29/10 7:12 p.m.

While it doesn't happen as much as it used to, there are still some sites that don't work with anything but IE. Keep it around, just don't use it.

JeffHarbert
JeffHarbert Reader
3/29/10 7:12 p.m.

Short answer is no. Starting with Windows XP IE became very tightly integrated with the operating system. The utilities that you can find to remove IE all really just hide the shortcut and remove a handful of registry entries. Not really worth the time.

Just get rid of the desktop shortcut and set a different browser as your default.

mtn
mtn SuperDork
3/29/10 8:08 p.m.

No, and you don't want to do it either. Just hide it far, far away.

RexSeven
RexSeven Dork
3/29/10 8:42 p.m.
VanillaSky wrote: While it doesn't happen as much as it used to, there are still some sites that don't work with anything but IE.

...like Microsoft. You still need IE to download updates for your OS if you're not using the Windows Update utility. Like everyone else here has said, just don't use it unless you're accessing a site that ONLY loads in IE (tread carefully if this is the case) or you need to download Firefox/Opera/Chrome/etc. after a fresh install.

96DXCivic
96DXCivic Dork
3/30/10 12:52 a.m.

I use Firefox for everything. I just want to dump some of the programs I never use.

mtn
mtn SuperDork
3/30/10 1:02 a.m.
96DXCivic wrote: I use Firefox for everything. I just want to dump some of the programs I never use.

Yeah, unfortunately you can't delete this one. Its basically welded into windows. You can disable it, but I forget how--for me, I just deleted most of the shortcuts to it. Its a big part of explorer, so it would really mess up your computer if you did.

I don't really know what much of that means, but have had a couple people tell me that.

Shaun
Shaun Reader
3/30/10 1:22 a.m.

Chrome rips. WAAAAAY faster than firefox. Like multiples faster. 2 seconds to boot instead of 20. I love Mozilla, praise be, they are making the world a better place. But chrome is really really fast. Keep IE for updates, installing drivers, blah blah blah. Some day Google will suck, but right now, they have it going on.

BoxheadTim
BoxheadTim Dork
3/30/10 6:04 a.m.

Has Chrome finally got an adblocker plugin?

DrBoost
DrBoost Dork
3/30/10 6:11 a.m.

Chrome sucks. I keep getting messages that the site won't load or that little circle spins counter clockwise for 30 or 45 seconds. I finally say a bad word, close it out and switch to FF. It opens in 15 seconds. I've tried chrome on 3 computers. Not a fan.

skruffy
skruffy Dork
3/30/10 6:28 a.m.

You can download microsoft updates with firefox if you know the KB number...

Marty!
Marty! HalfDork
3/30/10 3:41 p.m.

I've been using Chrome for a year now and love it, way better that FF. I was actually surprised that my new VAIO came with it pre-loaded too. Built-in ad blocker works great (version 4.1.2). FF is still good, but as Shaun said Chrome loads faster and surfs faster too.

As far as the OP's question, don't remove IE, will cause all sorts of problems. I believe Microsoft integrated IE even more than before after all the anti-trust lawsuits from Netscape. Besides it's always nice to have two browsers on a 'puter in case one gets a bug and shuts down (happen to me before with FF), then you can use the other one to search for answers to fix it or download a current version of your normal browser.

ReverendDexter
ReverendDexter Dork
3/30/10 4:45 p.m.

Yes. Get rid of Windows. Chrome, Opera, and Firefox are all available under the various flavors of Linux, and with the popularity of Macs, no site is justified in being IE-only anymore.

jamscal
jamscal Dork
3/30/10 8:52 p.m.

I'm not a 'computer guy' and don't want to be, but I love me some Chrome.

Unfortunately I ship via Fedex and their site won't run with Chrome, so I have to switch over (and wait) with IE.

motomoron
motomoron Reader
3/30/10 9:15 p.m.

Firefox never "took" with me, but I've quickly become a Chrome-vert.

...And I'm considering a Google phone. Uh-oh.

96DXCivic
96DXCivic Dork
3/30/10 9:35 p.m.

I don't like Chrome better then Firefox. I am going to stick with that.

cwh
cwh SuperDork
3/31/10 9:19 a.m.

FedEx's software barely runs on IE. Monday my wife was trying to get shipping papers put together for some Honda parts to Trinidad. After 45 minutes cursing like a sailor (absolutely no exaggeration) and finally screaming at me, I literally grabbed the little box and drove to the FedEx hub. Walked out 10 minutes later.

GameboyRMH
GameboyRMH SuperDork
3/31/10 1:01 p.m.

It is actually possible to remove IE on European versions of Win7.

pinchvalve
pinchvalve SuperDork
3/31/10 3:30 p.m.

I don't have IE on my Netbook at all. Of course, I don't have anything else Microsoft on it either!

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