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How do I uninstall IE8 from a Windows XP Pro SP3 system?

Anonymous
2009-08-19T18:43:17+00:00

IE8 does not show up in the "Add or Remove Programs" list.  Mere deletion of the icons is fruitless.  REGEDIT is unavailing - the entries just re-appear.  Other than by formatting the hard drive or purchasing 3rd-party software, is there any way to get rid of IE8 and go back to IE7?  I tried downloading and installing IE7 but it refusses to be installed because IE8 (or even vestiges of it) are installed on the system.  I could, I suppose, pay $59 for an online chat with a Microsoft tech buit I somehow doubt that the expense would be worth it - I'd get no answer or, at best, no answer that works.

Windows for home | Previous Windows versions | Internet and connectivity

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  1. Anonymous
    2009-08-19T20:52:49+00:00

    Hi,

    Click Start->Control Panel->Check for Updates ->View Update History->Installed updates

    Right click IE8 and uninstall.

    Good luck!

    If that doesn't work try this below

    http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx/kb/957700

    To uninstall Internet Explorer 8, follow these steps:

    1. Carefully select and then copy the following command:

    FORFILES /P %WINDIR%\servicing\Packages /M Microsoft-Windows-InternetExplorer-8*.mum /c "cmd /c echo Uninstalling package @fname && start /w pkgmgr /up:@fname /norestart" 2. Click Start, and then type Cmd.exe in the Start Search box. 3. In the list of programs, right-click Cmd.exe, and then click Run as administrator.

    Note If you are prompted for an administrator password or for confirmation, type the password, or click Continue. 4. Right-click inside the Administrator: Command Prompt window, and then click Paste to paste the command that you copied in step 1. 5. Press ENTER to uninstall Internet Explorer 8. 6. When the uninstall program is finished, restart your computer.

    http://support.microsoft.com/kb/950719/

    To uninstall Internet Explorer 7 or Internet Explorer 8, follow these steps:

    1. Uninstall Windows XP SP3.

    For more information about how to uninstall Windows XP SP3, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

    950249  (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/950249/ ) How to remove Windows XP Service Pack 3 from your computer 2. Uninstall Internet Explorer 7 or Internet Explorer 8.

    For more information about how to uninstall Internet Explorer 8, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

    957700  (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/957700/ ) How do I uninstall or remove Internet Explorer 8

    For more information about how to uninstall Internet Explorer 7, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

    927177  (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/927177/ ) How to uninstall Internet Explorer 7

    Note The steps that are listed in KB 927177 also apply to Internet Explorer 8 Beta 1. 3. Reinstall Windows XP SP3.

    For more information about how to install Windows XP Service Pack 3, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

    322389  (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/322389/ ) How to obtain the latest Windows XP service pack

    IT Technician MCITP-EST, MCDST, Network+, A+ http://www.itguyfixit.com

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  1. Anonymous
    2012-05-09T20:38:17+00:00

    Alternative steps for Windows XP and for Windows Server 2003 Click here to view or hide detailed information

    To uninstall Internet Explorer 8, follow these steps:

    1. Carefully select and then copy the following command:

    %windir%\ie8\spuninst\spuninst.exe 2. Click Start, and then click Run. 3. In the Open box, type Cmd.exe, and then press Enter. 4. Right-click inside the Cmd.exe window, and then click Paste to paste the command that you copied in step 1. 5. Press Enter to uninstall Internet Explorer 8. 6. After the program is removed, restart your computer.

    After you follow these steps, visit the "Did the alternative steps fix the problem?" section to verify that your earlier version of Internet Explorer is restored.

    4 people found this answer helpful.
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  2. Anonymous
    2017-03-06T13:36:09+00:00

    Read the questions carefully!

    The question was how to uninstall IE8 from Windows XP - not from Vista, not from Win 8.1

    Path

    "Click Start->Control Panel->Check for Updates ->View Update History->Installed updates"

    does NOT exist in XP (or Server 2003)

    Neither "IE8" nor "Internet Explorer 8" not "Microsoft Internet Explorer 8" show in installed programs and updates.

    It is also not accessible via System Components.

    Apparently MS decided that once you install that piece of junk you should be stuck with it forever.

    Solution - do a system restore, if you have one handy, or better yet do a snapshot of files and registry before installing and restore only the required files and settings accordingly.

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  3. Anonymous
    2013-12-19T16:06:25+00:00

    Great answer....except for the FACT that there isn't a "check for updates" option in control panel. It would be nice if steps were not left out.

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  4. Anonymous
    2009-08-19T22:30:43+00:00

    I also wish to uninstall IE8 and return to IE7. How many files, or other information will I lose? Thanks, Ted

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