How to Manually Uninstall Internet Explorer 4.0

• Microsoft Internet Explorer versions 4.0, 4.01 for Windows 95

SUMMARY

This article describes how to manually uninstall Internet Explorer 4.0 for Windows 95 when you are unable to uninstall Internet Explorer with the Add/Remove Programs tool in Control Panel, or the Ieremove.exe tool.

NOTE: Do not follow the steps in this article if you have not tried to uninstall Internet Explorer 4.0 by using the steps described in the following Microsoft Knowledge Base articles:

   ARTICLE-ID: Q174265
   TITLE     : How to Uninstall Internet Explorer 4.0

   ARTICLE-ID: Q166313
   TITLE     : Removing Internet Explorer 4.0 for Windows 95 Using
               Ieremove.exe

MORE INFORMATION

To uninstall Internet Explorer 4.0 after trying the steps in the articles listed above, use the following steps.

NOTE: If the Windows Desktop Update is not installed on your computer, or Windows 95 does not start, skip to step 4.

1. Click Start, point to Settings, click Control Panel, and then click Add/Remove Programs.

2. On the Install/Uninstall tab, click Microsoft Internet Explorer 4.0, and then click Add/Remove.

3. Click "Remove the Windows Desktop Update component, but keep the Internet Explorer 4.0 Web browser", click OK and then click OK.

   NOTE: Even though you are unable to uninstall Internet Explorer 4.0, the option to uninstall the Windows Desktop Update should be available in the Add/Remove programs tool. If you cannot uninstall the Windows Desktop Update with the Add/Remove programs tool, you must extract Explorer.exe and Shell32.dll from the original Windows 95 disks or CD-ROM. See step 5.

4. NOTE: If you installed Windows 95 from CD-ROM and you are not using real mode CD-ROM drivers (therefore you cannot access your CD-ROM drive in MS-DOS), install real mode CD-ROM drivers. For information about installing real mode CD-ROM drivers, consult the manufacturer's documentation included with your CD-ROM, or contact the manufacturer of the CD-ROM, and do not continue with the remaining steps.

   Restart your computer. When you see the "Starting Windows 95" message, press F8, and then choose Command Prompt Only.

5. Type the following commands, pressing ENTER after each command:

         cd windows\system
         ren inetcpl.cpl inetcpl.old
         ren ole2.dll ole2.old
         ren ole32.dll ole32.old
         ren oleaut32.dll oleaut32.old
         ren olepro32.dll olepro32.old
         ren olethk32.dll olethk32.old
         ren setupwbv.dll setupwbv.old
         ren softpub.dll softpub.old
         ren stdole2.tlb stdole2.old
         ren urlmon.dll urlmon.old
         ren wininet.dll wininet.old
   

   NOTE: This procedure assumes you do not have files with these names with the .old extension. If you do have files with these names with the .old extension, use a file name extension that is not currently in use.

   If you cannot uninstall the Windows Desktop Update from the Add/Remove Programs tool, type the following commands, pressing ENTER after each command:

         cd \<windows>
         ren explorer.exe explorer.old
         cd \<windows>\System
         ren shell32.dll shell32.old
   

   From the original Windows 95 disks or CD-ROM, extract the Explorer.exe file to the Windows folder and then extract the Shell32.dll file to the Windows\System folder. To do so, use the appropriate method:

   Windows 95 CD-ROM -----------------

   Insert the Windows 95 CD-ROM into the CD-ROM drive, and then type the following commands, pressing ENTER after each command:

         extract /a <drive>:\win95\win95_02.cab explorer.exe /l windows
         extract /a <drive>:\win95\win95_02.cab shell32.dll /l windows\system
   

   where <drive> is the drive letter assigned to your CD-ROM drive.

   Windows 95 Floppy Disks -----------------------

   Insert the Windows 95 floppy disk 1 into the floppy disk drive, and then type the following commands, pressing ENTER after each command

         extract /a <drive>:\win95_02.cab explorer.exe /l windows
         extract /a <drive>:\win95_02.cab shell32.dll /l windows\system
   

   where <drive> is the floppy disk drive letter.

         For more information about using the Extract tool, type "extract"
         (without quotation marks) at a command prompt, or see the following
         article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
   

         ARTICLE-ID: Q129605
         TITLE     : How to Extract Original Compressed Windows Files
   
   

6. Reinstall Windows 95. To do so, insert floppy disk 1 (or the Windows 95 CD-ROM) into the appropriate drive, and then type the following commands, pressing ENTER after each command

         <drive>:
         setup
   

   where <drive> is either the drive letter assigned to your CD-ROM, or the floppy disk drive letter.

   Click No when you receive the following prompt:

         A file being copied is older than the file currently on your
         computer. It is recommended that you keep your existing file.
   

            File name:    <filename.ext>
            Description:  <description of file>
            Your version: <version number>
   
         Do you want to keep this file?
   
   

7. After Setup finishes, reinstall Internet Explorer 3.02. For information about installing Internet Explorer 3.02, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

         ARTICLE-ID: Q164475
         TITLE     : Availability of Internet Explorer 3.02 for Windows 95
                     and NT 4.0
   
      Click No when you receive the following prompt:
   
         A file being copied is older than the file currently on your
         computer. It is recommended that you keep your existing file.
   
   

      ARTICLE-ID: Q 170993
      TITLE     : How to Install Internet Explorer and Troubleshoot Setup
                  Problems