Unable to Uninstall a Previous Version of Internet Explorer After You Uninstall the Current Version of Internet Explorer

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This article was previously published under Q291558

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SYMPTOMS

After you uninstall any version of Internet Explorer, either the Uninstall Internet Explorer and all its components or Restore the previous Windows configuration option is unavailable (dimmed).

You can use these options to uninstall Internet Explorer. The options are available in the Control Panel Add/Remove Programs tool when you click Add/Remove for Internet Explorer.

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CAUSE

This behavior occurs because Internet Explorer maintains only one set of backup (or uninstall) information. If you uninstall a version of Internet Explorer, you cannot use the Add/Remove Programs tool in Control Panel to remove the browser that was installed before the version of Internet Explorer that you uninstalled.

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WORKAROUND

To work around this behavior, install Internet Explorer 5 or later (which creates new backup, or uninstall, information), or view the following Microsoft Knowledge Base articles for additional information:

174265 (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/174265/EN-US/ ) How to Uninstall Internet Explorer 4.0

217344 (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/217344/EN-US/ ) How to Uninstall Internet Explorer 5

246194 (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/246194/EN-US/ ) How to Uninstall Internet Explorer 5.01

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STATUS

This behavior is by design.

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MORE INFORMATION

Either the Uninstall Internet Explorer and all its components or Restore the previous Windows configuration options are unavailable if you click Delete the backup information for Internet Explorer in the Advanced dialog box in the Add/Remove Programs tool. For additional information, view the following Microsoft Knowledge Base article:

172919 (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/172919/EN-US/ ) Uninstall Internet Explorer Option Is Missing

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