Remove IE9?

[Bruce Hagen]

Indeed, that's what I said. Actually I'm concerned about the security
vulnerabilities too, but I didn't like to mention that in my original
post for fear of causing arguments.

And simply 'hiding' it by removing regular access to it does not prevent
third party applications from using it. That's another reason why I want
simply to remove it.

I have read carefully all the responses, and am grateful to all those
who
have offered advice.

But I still cannot understand why Microsoft should have chosen to
entwine
a web browser so deeply into the OS. Surely a web browser is just an
application, like a word processor or a spreadsheet or a newsreader? The
OS is there to provide a service to the applications.






It isn't difficult to uninstall Word, Excel or Agent. Why should it be
difficult (or *impossible* as some have said) to uninstall IE?

Those are paid for extra apps. They are not included in any Windows
version.

 

[Sunny Bard]

Indeed, that's what I said. Actually I'm concerned about the security
vulnerabilities too,

If you don't use it, you're not vulnerable.

but I didn't like to mention that in my original
post for fear of causing arguments.

And simply 'hiding' it by removing regular access to it does not prevent
third party applications from using it. That's another reason why I want
simply to remove it.

True to a certain extent, but you have to trust any app you're going to
install, it could do silly or malicious things whether or not it uses IE
components.

I have read carefully all the responses, and am grateful to all those who
have offered advice.

But I still cannot understand why Microsoft should have chosen to entwine
a web browser so deeply into the OS.

Originally they did it purposefully to gain market share during the
browser wars, they might deny that, or at least phrase it differently!

Surely a web browser is just an
application, like a word processor or a spreadsheet or a newsreader? The
OS is there to provide a service to the applications.

It can be, unless you choose to make other apps rely on it, and other
parts of the OS rely on it, at which point it becomes a necessary part
*of* the OS.

It isn't difficult to uninstall Word, Excel or Agent. Why should it be
difficult (or *impossible* as some have said) to uninstall IE?

Because it provides services to other applications.

 

[Yousuf Khan]

For me, the big deal is security. Because MS chose to integrate their
browser w/ the kernel and not sandbox (isolate) it instead, they left
huge gaping vulnerabilities through the browser into the OS. I know I
can just choose to use another browser, but if IE stays installed like
it does, so do many insecurities stay with it on my system.

You can't get an IE-targeted malware if you don't run IE as your
browser. IE can't just get infected when its just sitting idly. If
you're using Firefox, then you're using Firefox as your web browser, IE
is not even being used at that time. If you have two cars, do you expect
to get into a car accident with the car that you've left at home?

Anyways, if you're worried about IE vulnerabilities, besides not using
it, you should also regularly update it with the Windows updates. This
is how the thread started in the first place, the OP didn't want to
update his IE from Windows Updates. That's his own prerogative, but it
really doesn't cause a huge inconvenience having to update IE patches. I
think these patches mostly can be done online, without a reboot
required, unless a new version of IE is released.

Yousuf Khan

 

[Yousuf Khan]

Indeed, that's what I said. Actually I'm concerned about the security
vulnerabilities too, but I didn't like to mention that in my original
post for fear of causing arguments.

And simply 'hiding' it by removing regular access to it does not prevent
third party applications from using it. That's another reason why I want
simply to remove it.

What third party applications? Part of the IE engine's job is to act as
the Windows Help system now, so all third party sofware with help files
make use of it. Does that make your system vulnerable to security
issues, everytime you use the help system? No, you can only be made
vulnerable via Internet-based exposure. If you're not using IE as your
web browser then it's being exposed to the Internet.

Yousuf Khan

 

[Hot Totty]

This question has doubtlessly been asked before, but please bear with me.

The time it takes when Windows Update downloads and installs updates to
IE9 is rather annoying, since I do not use it anyway. My web browser is
Firefox.

The answer is probably just to uninstall IE9, but how do I go about that
please? I have Googled quite a lot, but the solutions all seem to involve
installing an earlier version. I don't want any versions of Internet
Explorer.

Surely this is easy, and I am missing something obvious, but what is it?

Thanks.

Soon you will be bombarded with IE10 upgrade.

<http://channel9.msdn.com/posts/Inte...m-Preview-2-A-look-at-How-Stuff-Works-in-IE10>

<http://channel9.msdn.com/posts/Inte...m-Preview-2-A-look-at-Magnetic-Poetry-in-IE10>

<http://channel9.msdn.com/posts/Inte...view-2-A-look-at-Web-Worker-Fountains-in-IE10>

<http://channel9.msdn.com/posts/Inte...Preview-2-A-look-at-Positioned-Floats-in-IE10>

<http://channel9.msdn.com/posts/Internet-Explorer-10-Platform-Preview-2-Web-Workers-Demo>

<http://channel9.msdn.com/posts/First-Look-Internet-Exploer-10-Platform-Preview>

<http://channel9.msdn.com/Tags/internet+explorer>

 

[capitan]

You can't get an IE-targeted malware if you don't run IE as your
browser. IE can't just get infected when its just sitting idly. If
you're using Firefox, then you're using Firefox as your web browser, IE
is not even being used at that time. If you have two cars, do you expect
to get into a car accident with the car that you've left at home?

Anyways, if you're worried about IE vulnerabilities, besides not using
it, you should also regularly update it with the Windows updates. This
is how the thread started in the first place, the OP didn't want to
update his IE from Windows Updates. That's his own prerogative, but it
really doesn't cause a huge inconvenience having to update IE patches. I
think these patches mostly can be done online, without a reboot
required, unless a new version of IE is released.

Yousuf Khan

It's true there is less risk if you do not use IE. But there are
vulnerabilities that can be exploited even if you just have it installed
but do not use it as your browser.

 

[Peter Foldes]

This question has doubtlessly been asked before, but please bear with me.

The time it takes when Windows Update downloads and installs updates to
IE9 is rather annoying, since I do not use it anyway. My web browser is
Firefox.

HoneyMonster

Easiest way to remove IE and any version is to purchase you OS(Windows) in Europe
which is available in the N version. The N version comes with no IE,no Media Player


^%$(*&()=24%

 

[Dave \Crash\ Dummy]

It's true there is less risk if you do not use IE. But there are
vulnerabilities that can be exploited even if you just have it installed
but do not use it as your browser.

Really? Such as?

 

[charlie]

Just because you don't understand it, doesn't make it any less factual.
Your question has been answered, whether or not you like or understand
the answer isn't the issue.

IE uses a large number of windows "built in" capabilities. These started
when MS decided that internet service was a needed part of windows.
Basically, third party vendors were making too much money to suit MS
back in the windows 3.1 days.
A major part of the fracas had to do with MS using "undocumented"
features of windows, which were unavailable to third party vendors.
Today's IE versions still use a great number of windows capabilities
that are poorly documented. Since many of the capabilities used are
related to internet functionality, and are built in, The "N" versions
still must have the "heart and soul" of IE still present.
Just because the fancy IE GUI is not present, don't think that most of
the rest is not.

 

[Sunny Bard]

Easiest way to remove IE and any version is to purchase you OS(Windows)
in Europe which is available in the N version. The N version comes with
no IE,no Media Player

Sorry, that's incorrect, the 'N' editions do exclude Media Player, but
do not exclude Internet Explorer.

<http://windows.microsoft.com/en-GB/windows7/products/What-is-Windows-7-N-edition>

"The N editions of Windows 7 have all the features that normally come
with each individual Windows 7 edition, except for Windows Media Player
12 and related programs, such as Windows Media Center or Windows DVD Maker"

 

[Peter Foldes]

Sorry, that's incorrect, the 'N' editions do exclude Media Player, but
do not exclude Internet Explorer

Yes they do, IE if and if it is included in the N version uninstalls completely
without affecting any other programs and not leaving any footprint. IE and the MP
are not tied to the system as it is here. European Council won against Microsoft and
MS cannot tie those 2 apps to the OS with their versions being distributed and sold
in Europe under the N version. Get your facts straight and not as you claim. The
only exceptions being the UK,Scotland,Ireland

^%$(*&()=24%

 

[Gene E. Bloch]

And let me add that, even if you don't want it, there's really no
advantage to removing it over just removing access to it. The only
difference is that you would save a couple of pennies worth of disk
space.

And even removing access to it is hardly any different from just not
using it. Every version of Windows is filled with lots of built-in
programs/functions that I never have used and probably never will. I
don't feel compelled to remove them, and not even to remove access to
them.

And while I think of it--one more point: even if it's never happened
yet, one day HoneyMonster may have trouble getting to or using a
particular web site with whatever the browser is he prefers. It could
be very beneficial to have IE available for use in that contingency.

Been there, needed that - often

Also, I have a plug-in for FF that switches the mode to IE for such
circumstances. Guess how that would work if there were no IE available?

 

[Sunny Bard]

the 'N' editions [...] do not exclude Internet Explorer

Yes they do IE if and if it is included in the N version uninstalls
completely without affecting any other programs and not leaving any
footprint. IE and the MP are not tied to the system as it is here.
European Council won against Microsoft and MS cannot tie those 2 apps to
the OS with their versions being distributed and sold in Europe under
the N version.

Did you even READ the section I quoted from Microsoft, which you
stripped? I'll include it again for you ...

"The N editions of Windows 7 have all the features that normally come
with each individual Windows 7 edition, except for Windows Media Player
12 and related programs, such as Windows Media Center or Windows DVD Maker"

Is Internet Explorer a Media Player related program? No.

Get your facts straight and not as you claim. The only
exceptions being the UK,Scotland,Ireland

I think *YOU* are confused between the 'N' edition and the 'E' edition
which has never been made available in any part of the world, but which
would have had Internet Explorer removed, instead they gave users the
ballot screen to allow them to choose a default browser.

p.s. I'm in the UK.

 

[SC Tom]

It's true there is less risk if you do not use IE. But there are
vulnerabilities that can be exploited even if you just have it installed
but do not use it as your browser.

I'd be curious to see some documentation on that statement.

 

[Tester]

Did you even READ the section I quoted from Microsoft, which you
stripped? I'll include it again for you ...

No he can't read. His name is Peter Fool and it means exactly that!

"The N editions of Windows 7 have all the features that normally come
with each individual Windows 7 edition, except for Windows Media Player
12 and related programs, such as Windows Media Center or Windows DVD Maker"

Is Internet Explorer a Media Player related program? No.

Don't you ever waste your time educating a nutter who lives on immoral
earnings from his daughter's work as professional escort.

I think *YOU* are confused between the 'N' edition and the 'E' edition
which has never been made available in any part of the world, but which
would have had Internet Explorer removed, instead they gave users the
ballot screen to allow them to choose a default browser.

p.s. I'm in the UK.

He is confused about everything. He is a victim of a stroke and so his
brain isn't as you would expect from a normal person. It is just a
question of waiting for that crucial time - WHEN not IF he dies and who
inherits all his computers with full of filth and porn child films.

hth

 

[Leon Manfredi]

Sure you can and quite physically. First, format the hard drive. Second,
install Linux. No more IE ;-)

Remember when most of you all howled, (maybe not you) when I mentioned
that I did a restore to rid myself of IE9......
I'm still here Smart Arsed DummmmmmmmmieS!!!!!!!! Taking it all in...

 

[charlie]

Not true. You could remove IE from XP if you really wanted to.
http://inetexplorer.mvps.org/answers/8.html

The uninstalls you mention did not completely remove IE, since parts of
IE are really part of windows.

 

[Yousuf Khan]

It's true there is less risk if you do not use IE. But there are
vulnerabilities that can be exploited even if you just have it installed
but do not use it as your browser.

Name one.

Yousuf Khan

 

[Tester]

Remember when most of you all howled, (maybe not you) when I mentioned
that I did a restore to rid myself of IE9......
I'm still here Smart Arsed DummmmmmmmmieS!!!!!!!! Taking it all in...

To get rid of IE9 is not a problem in any of the Windows we know of;
To get rid of IE8 in Windows 7 is a problem;
To get rid of IE7 in Windows Vista is a problem;
To get rid of IE6 in Windows XP is a problem;

So the above is a good summary of what the actual problem is. As Alias
would say, there is no problem of getting rid of IE of any version; His
solution is to reformat the hard disk and install Linux. Now this does
work and you should send him some German stuff.

To us German are a bunch of bastards and Americans made a mistake to not
bomb them when there was an opportunity.

 

[Charles Tomaras]

For me, the big deal is security. Because MS chose to integrate their
browser w/ the kernel and not sandbox (isolate) it instead, they left huge
gaping vulnerabilities through the browser into the OS. I know I can just
choose to use another browser, but if IE stays installed like it does, so
do many insecurities stay with it on my system.

Please point me to a reference for an instance where a user of an alternate
browser got infected via IE because it was installed and not ever used? I
mean...maybe...but really...is this a problem? I think not.