Can I Permanently Remove Internet Explorer in Windows XP?

[ahrkron]

Does anyone know if there is a way to get rid of IE in Windows XP? I'm just all fed up with the pop up ads.

I installed Mozilla and it rarely pops up any ad windows. I'm very happy with it. However, Microsoft IE still gets activated somehow (even whithout it being used to display any website) and brings up ads anyway. I tried simply deleting a file from "Program Files", but XP notices and brings it back! (am I cursed or something? )

Or, if anyone knows how to edit the registry to get rid of whatever is bringing up this ads, that'd be as good.

 

[cookiemonster]

I think it can be done. I had a similar problem with Media Player 9 (hate it), and I ended up having to execute some kind of command line .dll in order to get rid of it.

Your best bet is probably to google for something like that. I'd do a little looking myself, but I'm already busy trying to fix my brother's computer. It used to have two operating systems, and now it somehow has zero!

Edit: Make that from two hard drives and two operating systems to one hard drive and zero operating systems.

cookiemonster

 

[dduardo]

You can't remove internet explorer. Your file manager is dependent on it.

 

[cookiemonster]

Is it? That's too bad.

cookiemonster

 

[ahrkron]

Originally posted by dduardo
You can't remove internet explorer. Your file manager is dependent on it.

As cookiemonster said, too bad!

Is there other way to inhibit the ads? I'm thinking of reinstalling windows, so that there is no remnant of any program that activates them. I'm even considering formatting the hard drive. Is there an easier way? Is this even worth the try? I've heard people saying that it is "healthy" to reinstall windows once in a while.

 

[Greg Bernhardt]

Originally posted by ahrkron
As cookiemonster said, too bad!

Is there other way to inhibit the ads? I'm thinking of reinstalling windows, so that there is no remnant of any program that activates them. I'm even considering formatting the hard drive. Is there an easier way? Is this even worth the try? I've heard people saying that it is "healthy" to reinstall windows once in a while.

I reinstall a clean ghost image I have of XP almost monthly. ahrkron I thought you used linux? mozilla firefox is an awesome browser, I don't see why IE opens, sure you have firefox as the default browser? What kind of ads are you talking about? Maybe you have some spyware and need to download spybot.

 

[ahrkron]

Originally posted by Greg Bernhardt
I reinstall a clean ghost image I have of XP almost monthly. ahrkron I thought you used linux? mozilla firefox is an awesome browser, I don't see why IE opens, sure you have firefox as the default browser? What kind of ads are you talking about? Maybe you have some spyware and need to download spybot.

I have linux in my "main" machine, but XP at home. How did you prepare the ghost image of XP? What does it overwrite when you reinstall it?

I have Mozilla as my default browser in XP. I'll take a look at spybot.

 

[Nereid]

Originally posted by ahrkron
I have linux in my "main" machine, but XP at home. How did you prepare the ghost image of XP? What does it overwrite when you reinstall it?

I have Mozilla as my default browser in XP. I'll take a look at spybot.

Be prepared for some, shall we say, 'interesting' results from the first time you run spybot; best that you're sitting down

 

[ahrkron]

Wow! 505 $%&$ "bad guys" were detected. And there are over 12 thousand known ones. Ptuaj!

Is that what you meant, Nereid?

Thanks for the tip, Greg! I should have installed something like this long ago.

 

[Nereid]

Originally posted by ahrkron
Wow! 505 $%&$ "bad guys" were detected. And there are over 12 thousand known ones. Ptuaj!

Is that what you meant, Nereid?

Thanks for the tip, Greg! I should have installed something like this long ago.

That's way more than what Spybot found on my PC ahrkron. However, two things I was shocked by were a) where did all these come from?? and b) four instances of a security hole in IE (or was it XP?) - and here's me diligently installing every Windows patch as soon as they're announced!

 

[russ_watters]

Not to be condescending, but I rarely get spyware: you must learn how to avoid it. Some tips:

-Never hit "yes," "no," "cancel," etc. in a popup: its a trick. Close every popup with the "X" in the upper right corner or right click it in your taskbar and click "close."

-Never allow software to be installed on your computer by a website unless you are absolutely certain of what it is.

-Be very careful installing shareware/freeware software. Much of it today is ad-supported. READ THE FINE PRINT.

-(spam) Never give your real email address to a website unless you want them to contact you. For example, when downloading many shareware programs, the sites will ask for your email address: give a fake.

 

[Mr. Robin Parsons]

where do you get spybot? this machine I am on I know is infected go one called sysupd.exe that is, so far, unremovable, even re-installs itself into the run line, in the registry, seconds after I delete it...Oye! they go after this computer...

 

[Greg Bernhardt]

Originally posted by Mr. Robin Parsons
where do you get spybot? this machine I am on I know is infected go one called sysupd.exe that is, so far, unremovable, even re-installs itself into the run line, in the registry, seconds after I delete it...Oye! they go after this computer...

http://download.com.com/3000-2144-10194058.html?tag=lst-0-1

oh and great tips russ, I basically live by them

 

[Mr. Robin Parsons]

Hey Spybot! Coool

Thanks! if I can get the time I'll put the "download permission key" back in place, and try it out...

 

[JohnDubYa]

Keep IE around. Yeah, it sucks. But there will be the occassional Web page that only works with IE.