Best Practices for uninstalling IE7

[Daave]

Before upgrading a colleague's PC to XP SP3 (she currently is at SP2), I
would like to downgrade IE from 7 to 6. Then once she is running SP3, I
would *then* like to upgrade to IE7.

I tried the downgrade via Add or Remove Programs. Perhaps because she
had the intrusive Alot toolbar installed, the downgrade broke IE. Using
System Restore was no help. Fortunately I had imaged the hard drive
beforehand, so I restored the image.

I have now uninstalled both Alot and the Google Toolbar. But still I am
concerned. A window comes up after I choose to uninstall IE7 with the
message:

"The following programs were installed on your computer after Internet
Explorer:"

There are *many* entries listed, most of them security updates for
Windows XP or Windows Internet Explorer 7. There are a few other
entries, including Java 6 Update 5 and MSXML 4.0 SP2 (KB954430).

Is it safe to proceed, or is there a risk without removing certain
updates or programs first? I'm having a case of once bitten, twice shy!
TIA.

 

[David B.]

Just uninstall as normal, install SP3, then reinstall IE7, I've never had
any issues with this routine, that of course doesn't mean you won't.

 

[Gordon]

Before upgrading a colleague's PC to XP SP3 (she currently is at SP2), I
would like to downgrade IE from 7 to 6. Then once she is running SP3, I
would *then* like to upgrade to IE7.

May I ask why you think you need to do it this way?

 

[Daave]

May I ask why you think you need to do it this way?

The usual reason.

From http://blogs.msdn.com/ie/archive/2008/05/05/ie-and-xpsp3.aspx

IEBlog
IE and Windows XP Service Pack 3


Internet Explorer 7 Users


If you are currently running IE7 on XPSP2, Windows Update will offer you
XPSP3 as a high priority update. If you choose to install XPSP3,
Internet Explorer 7 will remain on your system after the install is
complete. Your preferences will be retained. However, you will no longer
be able to uninstall IE7. If you go to Control Panel->Add/Remove
Programs, the Remove option will be grayed out.

This behavior is by design and here is why. When we install IE7 on
Windows XP SP2, we backup the existing IE6 files in an uninstall
directory. Those IE6 files are the ones that shipped on XPSP2 plus all
the security updates you've installed while using IE6. Windows XP SP3
contains a newer version of the Internet Explorer 6 files. If you have
XPSP3 on your system and uninstall IE7, your system would revert to the
backed up (older) version of the IE6 files rather than the newer XPSP3
version. You would end up in a mixed file state in Windows where most
files would be the upgraded XPSP3, except for the IE6 files restored
when uninstalling IE7. This state is not supported and is very bug
prone. To ensure a reliable user experience, we prevent this broken
state by disabling the ability to uninstall Internet Explorer 7.

If you must uninstall IE7 after you have upgraded to XPSP3, then you
have to first uninstall XPSP3, and then uninstall IE7. After this series
of uninstalls, you will be reverted back to a XPSP2, and a stable
version of IE6, so feel free to upgrade to XPSP3 again.

If you install IE7 after you install XPSP3, then you will be able to
uninstall IE7 at any point and be reverted to the newer IE6 version that
ships in XPSP3. The restriction on uninstalling only applies to when you
install a Windows Service Pack release on top of a standalone IE
release.

Keeping this in mind, you might want to uninstall IE7, upgrade to XPSP3
and then install IE7 again so you can uninstall IE7 in the future if
need be.

 

[PA Bear [MS MVP]]

Uninstalling IE7
http://www.ie-vista.com/kbase2.html

[Only use the Command %windir%\ie7\spuninst\spuninst.exe if you cannot
uninstall 'WIndows Internet Explorer 7' via Add/Remove Programs; Ignore any
references to Vista on that page.]

IE7 (Un)Installation and Anti-Malware Applications:
http://blogs.msdn.com/ie/archive/2006/10/11/IE7-Installation-and-Anti_2D00_Malware-Applications.aspx

IEBlog: IE and Windows XP Service Pack 3
http://blogs.msdn.com/ie/archive/2008/05/05/ie-and-xpsp3.aspx

PS: It's safe to ignore any "Such-and-such may not work if..." prompts but
you should take the machine to Windows Update IMMEDIATELY after uninstalling
IE7 and rebooting *twice*!!

 

[Daave]

Thanks, Bear. I'm familiar with that page, but I had forgotten about it!

Actually, I plan on installing SP3 offline and *then* immediately
download subsequent updates. I understand that Conficker worm has been
making the rounds.

Out of curiosity, why are two reboots necessary? What does the second
one accomplish?

Uninstalling IE7
http://www.ie-vista.com/kbase2.html

[Only use the Command %windir%\ie7\spuninst\spuninst.exe if you cannot
uninstall 'WIndows Internet Explorer 7' via Add/Remove Programs;
Ignore any references to Vista on that page.]

IE7 (Un)Installation and Anti-Malware Applications:
http://blogs.msdn.com/ie/archive/2006/10/11/IE7-Installation-and-Anti_2D00_Malware-Applications.aspx

IEBlog: IE and Windows XP Service Pack 3
http://blogs.msdn.com/ie/archive/2008/05/05/ie-and-xpsp3.aspx

PS: It's safe to ignore any "Such-and-such may not work if..." prompts
but you should take the machine to Windows Update IMMEDIATELY after
uninstalling IE7 and rebooting *twice*!!
--
~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
MS MVP-IE, Mail, Security, Windows Desktop Experience - since 2002
AumHa VSOP & Admin http://aumha.net
DTS-L http://dts-l.net/

Before upgrading a colleague's PC to XP SP3 (she currently is at
SP2), I
would like to downgrade IE from 7 to 6. Then once she is running SP3,
I
would *then* like to upgrade to IE7.

I tried the downgrade via Add or Remove Programs. Perhaps because she
had the intrusive Alot toolbar installed, the downgrade broke IE.
Using
System Restore was no help. Fortunately I had imaged the hard drive
beforehand, so I restored the image.

I have now uninstalled both Alot and the Google Toolbar. But still I
am
concerned. A window comes up after I choose to uninstall IE7 with the
message:

"The following programs were installed on your computer after
Internet
Explorer:"

There are *many* entries listed, most of them security updates for
Windows XP or Windows Internet Explorer 7. There are a few other
entries, including Java 6 Update 5 and MSXML 4.0 SP2 (KB954430).

Is it safe to proceed, or is there a risk without removing certain
updates or programs first? I'm having a case of once bitten, twice
shy!
TIA.

 

[PA Bear [MS MVP]]

Rebooting twice after installing or uninstalling an IE upgrade or a Service
Pack has proven to be the best way of making sure the install/uninstall was
done properly & completely. Trust me on this one, please.

Thanks, Bear. I'm familiar with that page, but I had forgotten about it!

Actually, I plan on installing SP3 offline and *then* immediately
download subsequent updates. I understand that Conficker worm has been
making the rounds.

Out of curiosity, why are two reboots necessary? What does the second
one accomplish?

Uninstalling IE7
http://www.ie-vista.com/kbase2.html

[Only use the Command %windir%\ie7\spuninst\spuninst.exe if you cannot
uninstall 'WIndows Internet Explorer 7' via Add/Remove Programs;
Ignore any references to Vista on that page.]

IE7 (Un)Installation and Anti-Malware Applications:
http://blogs.msdn.com/ie/archive/2006/10/11/IE7-Installation-and-Anti_2D00_Malware-Applications.aspx

IEBlog: IE and Windows XP Service Pack 3
http://blogs.msdn.com/ie/archive/2008/05/05/ie-and-xpsp3.aspx

PS: It's safe to ignore any "Such-and-such may not work if..." prompts
but you should take the machine to Windows Update IMMEDIATELY after
uninstalling IE7 and rebooting *twice*!!
--
~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
MS MVP-IE, Mail, Security, Windows Desktop Experience - since 2002
AumHa VSOP & Admin http://aumha.net
DTS-L http://dts-l.net/

Before upgrading a colleague's PC to XP SP3 (she currently is at
SP2), I
would like to downgrade IE from 7 to 6. Then once she is running SP3,
I
would *then* like to upgrade to IE7.

I tried the downgrade via Add or Remove Programs. Perhaps because she
had the intrusive Alot toolbar installed, the downgrade broke IE.
Using
System Restore was no help. Fortunately I had imaged the hard drive
beforehand, so I restored the image.

I have now uninstalled both Alot and the Google Toolbar. But still I
am
concerned. A window comes up after I choose to uninstall IE7 with the
message:

"The following programs were installed on your computer after
Internet
Explorer:"

There are *many* entries listed, most of them security updates for
Windows XP or Windows Internet Explorer 7. There are a few other
entries, including Java 6 Update 5 and MSXML 4.0 SP2 (KB954430).

Is it safe to proceed, or is there a risk without removing certain
updates or programs first? I'm having a case of once bitten, twice
shy!
TIA.

 

[Mike_T]

After upgrading to XP Pro SP3 from XP H SW3 I can not browse Internet,
clicking icon gives me the start up page but any address written in address
line gives such reply: "The requested look up key was not found in any active
activation context."
Any ideas?
Mike

Rebooting twice after installing or uninstalling an IE upgrade or a Service
Pack has proven to be the best way of making sure the install/uninstall was
done properly & completely. Trust me on this one, please.

Thanks, Bear. I'm familiar with that page, but I had forgotten about it!

Actually, I plan on installing SP3 offline and *then* immediately
download subsequent updates. I understand that Conficker worm has been
making the rounds.

Out of curiosity, why are two reboots necessary? What does the second
one accomplish?

Uninstalling IE7
http://www.ie-vista.com/kbase2.html

[Only use the Command %windir%\ie7\spuninst\spuninst.exe if you cannot
uninstall 'WIndows Internet Explorer 7' via Add/Remove Programs;
Ignore any references to Vista on that page.]

IE7 (Un)Installation and Anti-Malware Applications:
http://blogs.msdn.com/ie/archive/2006/10/11/IE7-Installation-and-Anti_2D00_Malware-Applications.aspx

IEBlog: IE and Windows XP Service Pack 3
http://blogs.msdn.com/ie/archive/2008/05/05/ie-and-xpsp3.aspx

PS: It's safe to ignore any "Such-and-such may not work if..." prompts
but you should take the machine to Windows Update IMMEDIATELY after
uninstalling IE7 and rebooting *twice*!!
--
~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
MS MVP-IE, Mail, Security, Windows Desktop Experience - since 2002
AumHa VSOP & Admin http://aumha.net
DTS-L http://dts-l.net/

Daave wrote:
Before upgrading a colleague's PC to XP SP3 (she currently is at
SP2), I
would like to downgrade IE from 7 to 6. Then once she is running SP3,
I
would *then* like to upgrade to IE7.

I tried the downgrade via Add or Remove Programs. Perhaps because she
had the intrusive Alot toolbar installed, the downgrade broke IE.
Using
System Restore was no help. Fortunately I had imaged the hard drive
beforehand, so I restored the image.

I have now uninstalled both Alot and the Google Toolbar. But still I
am
concerned. A window comes up after I choose to uninstall IE7 with the
message:

"The following programs were installed on your computer after
Internet
Explorer:"

There are *many* entries listed, most of them security updates for
Windows XP or Windows Internet Explorer 7. There are a few other
entries, including Java 6 Update 5 and MSXML 4.0 SP2 (KB954430).

Is it safe to proceed, or is there a risk without removing certain
updates or programs first? I'm having a case of once bitten, twice
shy!
TIA.

 

[PA Bear [MS MVP]]

Yes: Please begin a new thread about /your/ problem, Mike.

After upgrading to XP Pro SP3 from XP H SW3 I can not browse Internet,
clicking icon gives me the start up page but any address written in
address
line gives such reply: "The requested look up key was not found in any
active activation context."
Any ideas?

<snip>

 

[Daave]

I was able to finish working on my colleague's PC today. Thanks again
for the advice and link, Bear. Worked like a charm.

Well, actually, there was a bit of a problem. When I ran IE7 for the
first time, I just got an empty white window. *Eventually* it loaded. I
believe the issue was the "Use a proxy server for your LAN" was checked.
Unchecking it seemed to do the trick.

Thanks again!

Rebooting twice after installing or uninstalling an IE upgrade or a
Service Pack has proven to be the best way of making sure the
install/uninstall was done properly & completely. Trust me on this
one, please.

Thanks, Bear. I'm familiar with that page, but I had forgotten about
it!

Actually, I plan on installing SP3 offline and *then* immediately
download subsequent updates. I understand that Conficker worm has
been
making the rounds.

Out of curiosity, why are two reboots necessary? What does the second
one accomplish?

Uninstalling IE7
http://www.ie-vista.com/kbase2.html

[Only use the Command %windir%\ie7\spuninst\spuninst.exe if you
cannot
uninstall 'WIndows Internet Explorer 7' via Add/Remove Programs;
Ignore any references to Vista on that page.]

IE7 (Un)Installation and Anti-Malware Applications:
http://blogs.msdn.com/ie/archive/2006/10/11/IE7-Installation-and-Anti_2D00_Malware-Applications.aspx

IEBlog: IE and Windows XP Service Pack 3
http://blogs.msdn.com/ie/archive/2008/05/05/ie-and-xpsp3.aspx

PS: It's safe to ignore any "Such-and-such may not work if..."
prompts
but you should take the machine to Windows Update IMMEDIATELY after
uninstalling IE7 and rebooting *twice*!!
--
~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
MS MVP-IE, Mail, Security, Windows Desktop Experience - since 2002
AumHa VSOP & Admin http://aumha.net
DTS-L http://dts-l.net/

Daave wrote:
Before upgrading a colleague's PC to XP SP3 (she currently is at
SP2), I
would like to downgrade IE from 7 to 6. Then once she is running
SP3,
I
would *then* like to upgrade to IE7.

I tried the downgrade via Add or Remove Programs. Perhaps because
she
had the intrusive Alot toolbar installed, the downgrade broke IE.
Using
System Restore was no help. Fortunately I had imaged the hard drive
beforehand, so I restored the image.

I have now uninstalled both Alot and the Google Toolbar. But still
I
am
concerned. A window comes up after I choose to uninstall IE7 with
the
message:

"The following programs were installed on your computer after
Internet
Explorer:"

There are *many* entries listed, most of them security updates for
Windows XP or Windows Internet Explorer 7. There are a few other
entries, including Java 6 Update 5 and MSXML 4.0 SP2 (KB954430).

Is it safe to proceed, or is there a risk without removing certain
updates or programs first? I'm having a case of once bitten, twice
shy!
TIA.

 

[PA Bear [MS MVP]]

YW & thanks for your feedback.

I was able to finish working on my colleague's PC today. Thanks again
for the advice and link, Bear. Worked like a charm.

Well, actually, there was a bit of a problem. When I ran IE7 for the
first time, I just got an empty white window. *Eventually* it loaded. I
believe the issue was the "Use a proxy server for your LAN" was checked.
Unchecking it seemed to do the trick.

Thanks again!

Rebooting twice after installing or uninstalling an IE upgrade or a
Service Pack has proven to be the best way of making sure the
install/uninstall was done properly & completely. Trust me on this
one, please.

Thanks, Bear. I'm familiar with that page, but I had forgotten about
it!

Actually, I plan on installing SP3 offline and *then* immediately
download subsequent updates. I understand that Conficker worm has
been
making the rounds.

Out of curiosity, why are two reboots necessary? What does the second
one accomplish?


Uninstalling IE7
http://www.ie-vista.com/kbase2.html

[Only use the Command %windir%\ie7\spuninst\spuninst.exe if you
cannot
uninstall 'WIndows Internet Explorer 7' via Add/Remove Programs;
Ignore any references to Vista on that page.]

IE7 (Un)Installation and Anti-Malware Applications:
http://blogs.msdn.com/ie/archive/2006/10/11/IE7-Installation-and-Anti_2D00_Malware-Applications.aspx

IEBlog: IE and Windows XP Service Pack 3
http://blogs.msdn.com/ie/archive/2008/05/05/ie-and-xpsp3.aspx

PS: It's safe to ignore any "Such-and-such may not work if..."
prompts
but you should take the machine to Windows Update IMMEDIATELY after
uninstalling IE7 and rebooting *twice*!!
--
~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
MS MVP-IE, Mail, Security, Windows Desktop Experience - since 2002
AumHa VSOP & Admin http://aumha.net
DTS-L http://dts-l.net/

Daave wrote:
Before upgrading a colleague's PC to XP SP3 (she currently is at
SP2), I
would like to downgrade IE from 7 to 6. Then once she is running
SP3,
I
would *then* like to upgrade to IE7.

I tried the downgrade via Add or Remove Programs. Perhaps because
she
had the intrusive Alot toolbar installed, the downgrade broke IE.
Using
System Restore was no help. Fortunately I had imaged the hard drive
beforehand, so I restored the image.

I have now uninstalled both Alot and the Google Toolbar. But still
I
am
concerned. A window comes up after I choose to uninstall IE7 with
the
message:

"The following programs were installed on your computer after
Internet
Explorer:"

There are *many* entries listed, most of them security updates for
Windows XP or Windows Internet Explorer 7. There are a few other
entries, including Java 6 Update 5 and MSXML 4.0 SP2 (KB954430).

Is it safe to proceed, or is there a risk without removing certain
updates or programs first? I'm having a case of once bitten, twice
shy!
TIA.