How to Uninstall Windows Internet Explorer 8 (IE8) in Vista
Fed up with Internet Explorer 8 which is unstable at best? IE8 IE8 Beta 1 may occasionally crashes or not responding when browsing websites, and users have to close the browser with request to send the error report to Microsoft. The bugs or crashes happen more frequently especially if users using third-party add-ons such as Google Toolbar. This is generally expected as this is the first beta of IE 8.
Beside, user interface of IE8 is generally similar to IE7, reducing the enticing for users who face problems when using IE8 to stay using it. If you decided to rollback and revert back to original IE7 or IE6, it’s possible to uninstall IE8 to do so.
IE8 can be uninstall by using Add or Remove Programs module in Windows XP, but in Windows Vista, Windows Internet Explorer 8 is not considered to be a ‘program’. Instead, IE8 is categorizing as an ‘update’. Thus, users will not be able to find Windows Internet Explorer 8 in “Programs and Features” of Windows Vista.
To uninstall Internet Explorer 8, go to Control Panel, and click on Uninstall Programs link or Programs and Features icon. Then on Tasks pane on the left, click on View installed updates link. Locate and select Windows Internet Explorer 8 in the list of installed updates, and then click on Uninstall button. Click on Yes when asked that are you sure want to uninstall the update.
If there is no option of IE8 been found on “Programs and Features” or “Add or Remove Programs” dialog box, or uninstallation of Internet Explorer 8 is unclean (causing error message such as setup cannot continue because a more recent version of Internet Explorer has been detected on this computer when trying to downgrade to IE7), try to manually run the spuninst.exe.
To do so, go to C:\WINDOWS\ie8\spuninst\ folder (your drive letter may be different), and run spuninst.exe. Restart the computer after uninstallation completed.
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October 26th, 2009 20:19
thanx alot …
October 14th, 2009 11:50
woohoo
October 2nd, 2009 05:40
You guys are great!!!
Thank you for the “How to unintall window internet Explorer (IE8) in Vista” tip.
September 24th, 2009 21:29
I have a laptop with vist and pre installed IE8. I must have IE7 as 8 is not compatible for the remote desktop connection to our county database. There is no option in the view installed updates and also no spuninst folder. Plus i can’t even download IE7 for vista because the microsoft website will only suppport XP or 2003 server..!! This is rather frustrating. I also cant use other browsers as they are not supported by our county council
PLEASE PLEASE need some advice on this one.
Regards
Charlie
September 14th, 2009 04:05
Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!
I couldnt figure out why my computer suddenly was taking sooooo long to connect to the internet, and why some of my favorite sites wouldnt open.
Truly grateful here!
September 11th, 2009 05:27
Thank you very much. IE8 is bad, to say the least. Again, thanks.
August 20th, 2009 03:21
You are a lifesaver. This browser prevented me also from connecting to the internet and crashed my webpages constantly.
August 15th, 2009 10:33
Thank you!! I’ve been trying to get rid of IE8 for a few months now. My laptop wouldn’t print anything except the web address at the bottom of the page. Thank you so much!
August 12th, 2009 08:52
Thank you so much! I have been trying to uninstall that stupid browser for MONTHS! Thx again!
August 10th, 2009 06:55
thanks soo much it was causing me so many problems my laptop just didnt want to connect at all the the internet.
August 9th, 2009 03:04
Doesn’t work for me (IE8 pre installed with Vista). There’s nothing in Windows Updates and there’s no spuninst.exe file anywhere.
August 1st, 2009 05:13
Hi. I tried what you said for windows vista but I could not find any internet explorer 8 in my updates. I am so sick of IE8 because of its slowness. It makes my computer lag. Do you have any other suggestions because i’m fustrated so much!!!
please help me! Thanks
July 21st, 2009 21:26
Thanks so so so much,,, thank you thanks…
No I am losing it,,, I hate the IE8 had loads of problems, most favorites are not working… when i checked how to remove it ,, websites showed up and i have to pay..
Thanks again
July 16th, 2009 04:48
Thank you !!!! OMG THANK YOU AGAIN.
I HATE IE, (mozilla man), and have wanted it removed from my Vista forever, and Windows Help, says, when asked if it it can be removed…”NO”.
Liars, Liars, Liars.
I really hate the way IE seems to constanltly be “tied in” to programs that only use it for web service, and then makes itself your default browser…WHO DO THEY THINK THEY ARE ??
AGAIN, THANKS..I AM PLEASED, RELIEVED…ECSTATIC !!!!
July 13th, 2009 15:47
PS.
I should have explained – my OS is Visa home premium. So removal of IE8 was via the ‘view installed updates’ option described above.
Once IE8 was removed IE7 was automatically restored and works normally.
July 13th, 2009 15:29
Thanks for the tip on removing ‘Internet Explorer 8′.
MS screwed up again! – After installing IE8 ‘My Favorites’ links no longer worked (well, most of them!). I couldn’t replace them because the ‘Add Favorite’ button also failed to open the command, screen just blinked momentarily.
On removing IE8 as advised everything works normal once gain. – Phew!
July 13th, 2009 09:21
My acer laptop did not come with a CD, so how can I take vista off completely and install xp. I have the cd for XP Home but can’t get vista off my laptop
July 11th, 2009 21:45
thank you!
July 10th, 2009 02:56
thank you so much! i use windowblinds, and it messes up ie8! so frustrating! but it does theme ie7 quite nicely
July 3rd, 2009 07:15
Thanks for the instructions. I didn’t mind EXP8 – but I print a lot of coupons and since I upgraded to EXP8 I have not been able to print on may sites – being constantly told that I had to install a coupon printer that I installed over and over…..I hope that getting rid of it will get rid of the printing issues. I didn’t have any issue before the “upgrade” – so keepin my fingers crossed!!
July 2nd, 2009 10:39
Thanks for the tip.
July 1st, 2009 09:00
if i uninstall IE8, how will i reinstall IE7 or does it already go? PLEASE HELP. I HATE IE8!!!!!!!!!!!
June 30th, 2009 21:32
Thanks a lot
your Answer is very much help full
please keep in touch
June 30th, 2009 19:08
Thanks for the info. So happy to be rid of ie8!
June 13th, 2009 21:44
UNINSTALL Windows !
Install Linux, or OpenSolaris, or FreeBSD.
-enjoy the freedom.
Or,
Buy an Apple (OSX) a real Unix NetOS.
-enjoy the Quality hardware/software.