Article ID: 957700 - Last Review: May 29, 2009 - Revision: 8.5

How do I uninstall or remove Internet Explorer 8?

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Summary

If you have problems with Internet Explorer 8, you might want to try Compatibility View  (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/956197/LN/ ) or our guided help (http://support.microsoft.com/gp/pc_ie_v8intro) to see whether you can fix the problem. However, if you just want to uninstall, or remove, Internet Explorer 8, this article helps you do that.

When you remove Internet Explorer 8, your earlier version of Internet Explorer is restored with your customizations (such as add-ins, Favorites, and your home page). However, Internet Explorer 8 is a part of Windows 7. Therefore, if you remove Internet Explorer 8, you will have to install a third-party browser to be able to browse the Internet. (http://support.microsoft.com/?scid=letmefixit)
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RESOLUTION

To uninstall Internet Explorer 8, follow the instructions for your version of Windows. To follow these steps, you must be logged on to Windows as an administrator.

Note If you are not sure which version of Windows that you are running, or if you need help verifying that you are an administrator, click here to determine your environment (http://support.microsoft.com/gp/admin) .

Important You cannot uninstall Internet Explorer 8 if it is set as not removable. This occurs if you install Internet Explorer 8 before you install Service Pack 3 (SP3) for Windows XP. If this scenario applies to you, then you must uninstall SP3 before you can uninstall Internet Explorer 8. For more information about this issue, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
950719  (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/950719/ ) You cannot uninstall Internet Explorer 7 or Internet Explorer 8 after you install Windows XP Service Pack 3

Steps for Windows 7 or for Windows Server 2008 R2

To uninstall Internet Explorer 8, follow these steps:
  1. Close all programs.
  2. Click Start
    Collapse this imageExpand this image
    Start button
    , and then click Control Panel.
  3. Under Programs, click Uninstall a program.
  4. In the tasks pane, click Turn Windows features on or off.
  5. In the list of windows features, clear the check box next to Internet Explorer 8.
  6. You receive a warning message in a pop-up window. Click Yes.
Internet Explorer 8 will now be uninstalled. The system will restart after the installation.

Steps for Windows Vista or for Windows Server 2008

To uninstall Internet Explorer 8, follow these steps:
  1. Close all programs.
  2. Click Start, and then click Control Panel.
  3. Click Uninstall a Program under the Programs category
  4. In the Tasks pane, click View installed updates.
  5. In the list of installed updates, double-click Windows Internet Explorer 8.

    Note If Windows Internet Explorer 8 does not appear in the list of installed updates, try the alternative steps for Windows Vista or for Windows Server 2008.
  6. In the Uninstall an update dialog box, click Yes.

    Note If you are prompted for an administrator password or for confirmation, type the password, or click Continue.
  7. Follow the instructions to uninstall Internet Explorer 8.
  8. When the uninstall program is finished, restart your computer.
After you have finished, go to the "Did the "Let me fix it myself" steps fix the problem?" section to verify that your earlier version of Internet Explorer is restored.

Steps for Windows XP or for Windows Server 2003

To uninstall Internet Explorer 8, follow these steps:
  1. Close all programs.
  2. Click Start, and then click Control Panel.
  3. Click Add or Remove Programs.
  4. In the list of currently installed programs, click Windows Internet Explorer 8, and then click Remove.

    Note If Windows Internet Explorer 8 does not appear in the list of installed updates, try the alternative steps for Windows XP or for Windows Server 2003.
  5. Follow the instructions to uninstall Internet Explorer 8.
  6. When the uninstall program is finished, restart your computer.
Now go to the "Did the "Let me fix it myself" steps fix the problem?" section to verify that your earlier version of Internet Explorer is restored.
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Did the steps fix the problem?

  1. After you restart your computer, open Internet Explorer.
  2. Click About Internet Explorer on the Help menu. If Internet Explorer 6 or 7 appears in the About Internet Explorer dialog box, then you are finished with this article.
  3. If Internet Explorer 8 is not removed, or you cannot open Internet Explorer 6 or 7, you can try the alternative steps or you can contact support (http://support.microsoft.com/oas/default.aspx?prid=12357) .
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Alternative steps

If you tried the steps in the Resolution section, the steps in this section will not work for you. Instead, you can contact support (http://support.microsoft.com/oas/default.aspx?prid=12357) .

Alternative steps for Windows Vista or for Windows Server 2008

To uninstall Internet Explorer 8, follow these steps:
  1. Carefully select and then copy the following command:
    FORFILES /P %WINDIR%\servicing\Packages /M Microsoft-Windows-InternetExplorer-8*.mum /c "cmd /c echo Uninstalling package @fname && start /w pkgmgr /up:@fname /norestart"
  2. Click Start, and then type Cmd.exe in the Start Search box.
  3. In the list of programs, right-click Cmd.exe, and then click Run as administrator.

    Note If you are prompted for an administrator password or for confirmation, type the password, or click Continue.
  4. Right-click inside the Administrator: Command Prompt window, and then click Paste to paste the command that you copied in step 1.
  5. Press ENTER to uninstall Internet Explorer 8.
  6. When the uninstall program is finished, restart your computer.

Alternative steps for Windows XP or for Windows Server 2003

To uninstall Internet Explorer 8, follow these steps:
  1. Carefully select and then copy the following command:
    %windir%\ie8\spuninst\spuninst.exe
  2. Click Start, and then click Run.
  3. In the Open box, type Cmd.exe, and then press ENTER.
  4. Right-click inside the Cmd.exe window, and then click Paste to paste the command that you copied in step 1.
  5. Press ENTER to uninstall Internet Explorer 8.
  6. When the uninstall program is finished, restart your computer.
After you follow these steps, go to the "Did the alternative steps fix the problem?" section to verify that your earlier version of Internet Explorer is restored.
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Did the alternative steps fix the problem?

  1. After you restart your computer, open Internet Explorer.
  2. Click About Internet Explorer on the Help menu. If Internet Explorer 6 or 7 appears in the About Internet Explorer dialog box, then you are finished with this article.
  3. If Internet Explorer 8 is not removed, or you cannot open Internet Explorer 6 or 7, you can contact support (http://support.microsoft.com/oas/default.aspx?prid=12357) .
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More information for advanced users

After you uninstall Internet Explorer 8, you may notice Application event log errors after each reboot. To resolve this problem, delete the following Internet Explorer User Accelerators and Internet Explorer Machine Accelerators registry keys in HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon\GPExtensions:
{7B849a69-220F-451E-B3FE-2CB811AF94AE}
{CF7639F3-ABA2-41DB-97F2-81E2C5DBFC5D}

Note If you run the Fix it, these keys are deleted automatically.
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APPLIES TO
  • Windows Internet Explorer 8
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Keywords: 
kbtshoot KB957700
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