Help to Uninstal IE

I have such a headache right now about this.
I have a Acer Laptop (boo!) with Windows Vista (also boo!) I remember that on my older computers, such as ones I have had loaded with Windows 2000 or XP, that I could completely un-install Internet Explorer. However, on this horrible OS, I can't find any way to remove it and, everywhere I ask about how to do it, I get the run-around.
People think that I just want to remove an update. I don't, I want it gone completely.
People tell me that doing so will make certain programs not work. That's fine, I can deal with that.
Ultimately, I just want it gone. How do I do this?

 

You can't.


Just like you couldn't remove the version that shipped with XP.

Whats wrong with Vista? Maybe someone here can help you out.

 

:major Welcome to Major Geeks!
Adrynalyne is 100% correct. You cannot completely remove Internet Explorer from Vista or Windows XP. In WinXP, if you upgraded to IE7, you can remove that and go back to IE6, but you cannot completely remove it. I run XP Pro, and do not use Internet Explorer, ever. The only way you'd even know it's on my PC would be to go look for it. I think you can create a custom install CD using nLite and leave out IE and/or other Windows components, but I don't know if it works with Vista, and I have personally never used it, so don't take my word for it. If you're having some type of problem, we'd be happy to help you with that if we can.

 

A lot. It's still new to me and I'm slowly adjusting.
The key problem, but not the only one, that makes me want to remove IE is that I have a virus or spyware program that absolutely can not be detected by anything. Hijack this, Ad-Aware, AVG. Whatever it's doing, It's making internet explorer appear on my task manager list and is sucking up even more memory and what-not than even explorer.exe. Given that I've tried every Spyware/Adware/Malware/Trojan/Antivirus program I trust (most recommended by Majorgeeks) I decided to cut the middle-man and get rid of it altogether. I've done it on another Vista system by just shredding the Internet Explorer folder, but for some reason, I can't copy my tactics on this system.

 

I agree, the malware forum is where you should start. Many of the newer generation of malware use IE for all sorts of things, and the manage to run it in the background without it being visible. Just out of curiosity, what happens if you disable the internet connection? Does IE still run or does some type of error pop up? You can use a process monitor (like Process Explorer from Sysinternals/Microsoft http://www.majorgeeks.com/Process_Explorer_d4566.html) to see what's going on behind the scenes.... anyway- jump over to the malware forum and use Mark's link above.....
Good Luck :major