Earlier Versions of Internet Explorer Install Over Version 4.0

ID: Q167085


The information in this article applies to:
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer for Windows 95
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer for Windows NT 4.0


SYMPTOMS

When you attempt to install an earlier version of Internet Explorer on a computer on which Internet Explorer 4.0 (Version 4.71.1712.6) is running in Browser only mode (the Windows Desktop Update is not installed), several version conflict messages are displayed, but no other error messages are displayed and the installation process proceeds normally.

After the earlier version of Internet Explorer is installed, you may be unable to start Internet Explorer or Internet Explorer may not function properly. The behavior that occurs after the earlier version of Internet Explorer is installed depends on whether you choose to keep the existing files or replace them when the version conflict messages are displayed.


RESOLUTION

If you install Internet Explorer 4.0 and then decide that you want to return to an earlier version of Internet Explorer, you should uninstall Internet Explorer 4.0 before you install the earlier version. For information about uninstalling Internet Explorer 4.0, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

Q174265 How to Uninstall Internet Explorer 4.0
To work around this issue if you have already installed an earlier version of Internet Explorer on a computer on which Internet Explorer 4.0 was running, install Internet Explorer 4.0 again, and then uninstall it. After you uninstall Internet Explorer 4.0, install the earlier version of Internet Explorer. For information on how to install Internet Explorer 4.0 again, see the following Web page:
http://www.microsoft.com/ie


STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in Microsoft Internet Explorer version 4.0. This problem has been addressed in Internet Explorer 4.01 (Version 4.72.2106.8). When attempting to install a previous version of Internet Explorer over Internet Explorer 4.01 in Browser only mode, the following message is displayed:

Newer version of Internet Explorer detected The installation of Internet Explorer <version> cannot proceed because you already have a newer version of Internet Explorer installed. Internet Explorer <version> setup will now quit.


MORE INFORMATION

If you attempt to install an earlier version of Internet Explorer on a computer on which Internet Explorer 4.0 (Version 1712.6) is running with the Windows Desktop Update, the following error message is displayed:

Internet Explorer 3.0 cannot be installed on a system that has Internet Explorer 4.0 installed.
If you click OK, the following message is displayed:
There was an error during the Setup process. Either the user pressed Cancel or there was not enough disk space. Installation failed.
NOTE: For Internet Explorer 4.01, the following warning precedes the above messages:
This program may not run correctly because of the new features in Internet Explorer 4.0. You may need to obtain an updated version of this program. For information about obtaining an updated version, click Details. Or, if you want to try running this program, click Details to determine whether it will cause other problems. Then, if running this program will not cause other problems, click Run Program.
When you click Details on the Apps.hlp warning message, the following information is displayed:
Do not install previous versions of Internet Explorer over Internet Explorer 4.0. Older versions of Internet Explorer will not permit Internet Explorer 4.0 to function properly. If you accidentally install an older version of Internet Explorer over Internet Explorer 4.0, uninstall Internet Explorer and then reinstall Internet Explorer 4.0.
For additional information, see the "Setup" topic in the Ie4.txt file included with Internet Explorer 4.0.

Additional query words: 3.00 3.01 3.02 4.00

Keywords : kberrmsg kbsetup msiew95 msient
Version : WINDOWS:
Platform : WINDOWS
Issue type :


Last Reviewed: September 14, 1999
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