How do you uninstall Internet Explorer 6 on Windows XP?

Question

I need to install Internet Explorer 7, but it won't let me because IE6 is already on my computer. Please don't tell me something dumb, like "Add or Remove programs", or "try it again", or "download it without uninstalling IE6."

Answer 1

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker

You CANNOT uninstall Internet Explorer 6 from XP, it is an intergral part of Windows and cannot be removed without totally borking Windows.

Is your XP fully updated to Service Pack 2 (SP2)?. SP2 is needed for a sucessful install of IE7.

Asker's Rating:

Asker's Comment:

Thanks! Now I just need to update to SP2.
LoL

Answer 2

You don't need to uninstall v6 to install v7 - it just upgrades the old version. If it's telling you to uninstall, something has gone wrong. If you use the Windows Update site, it will do it for you.

IE6 is installed/removed as a Windows component, not a program.

To uninstall 6, you press START - CONTROL PANEL - ADD/REMOVE PROGRAMS (Yes, really). But it's not in the 'Programs' area. Click on ADD/REMOVE WINDOWS COMPONENTS. In there you will see IE 6 and it's perfectly OK to remove it.

If you don't see it:
-Open C:\Program files\Internet Explorer.
-Right click the folder Uninstall information.
-Click Properties
U-ncheck the "hidden" mode and press OK.
-Go to C:\Program files\Internet Explorer\Setup.
-Run setup.exe

But - I'd recommend going to Windows Update. Something is wrong if it's telling you to uninstall version 6

Source(s):

http://www.windowsupdate.com