How can I either reinstall Internet Explorer or Windows XP without
doing a System Restore (I don't have XP CDs, came with Sony
workstation)? Here's what's happened:
1. IE became corrupted, now cannot open - states Runtime error.
2. Downloaded IE6setup.exe but would not run, states "newer version found"
3. Couldn't find how to uninstall/remove IE (at first, only looked
under Uninstall/Remove Programs)
4. Edited the Registry from 1 to 0, as per instructions in MS knowledge base
5. Found Uninstall/Remove Windows components - did that
6. Upon restart, system confirmed IE had been removed and asked if I
wanted some files cleaned up, I clicked yes
7. Found that although I had deselected all other components besides
IE, it seems to have removed other things like Outlook Express.
8. ie6setup.exe still indicates "newer version detected"
9. My Sony Vaio workstation came with XP loaded, so I do not have XP
only CDs. I only have System Restore and I'd really rather not run
that so as not to have to reinstall every blessed thing besides what I
started with 2 and a half years ago.
10. I have backed up all my files into a backup drive I have installed
in my G slot.
11. My sanity will be greatly improved if I can fix this. |
Clarification of Question by
mysticsinger1-ga
on
22 Aug 2005 14:33 PDT
12. I have now also run the System File Checker tool that scans all
the protected files, and then installed updates that it downloaded.
Still no change. IE still gives me runtime error and I still can't
run ie6setup.exe.
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Request for Question Clarification by
missy-ga
on
22 Aug 2005 15:04 PDT
Hi there!
You should be able to back up to a Restore Point without wiping out
your system entirely - in other words, without having to start
completely from scratch. Try this:
Start --> All Programs --> Accessories --> System Tools --> System Restore
Select "Create a Restore Point", so you can get back to your
computer's current settings if this next doesn't fix your problem.
Click next, give it a descriptive name (like Google Answers Restore
Point or somesuch), and click create.
When it's done, go back to the System Restore menu.
Select "Restore my computer to an earlier time" and click "Next", then
in the calendar, choose the *latest date* you are absolutely certain
IE still functioned properly. All programs that were in place on that
date will remain, but you might have to reinstall programs that you
installed after that date. This does not wipe out your entire system
- rather, it just backs you up to the last known good configuration.
If IE still doesn't function correctly, go back to the System Restore
menu, and restore to the Restore Point we had you create above.
Let me know how this goes, and we'll see about figuring out what else may help.
-- Missy
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Clarification of Question by
mysticsinger1-ga
on
22 Aug 2005 18:53 PDT
Thanks Missy. I will give that a try and post again, probably in the morning.
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Clarification of Question by
mysticsinger1-ga
on
22 Aug 2005 18:58 PDT
Missy,
Well, it looks like I'm unable to restore to an earlier time. The
latest date that I know my IE worked was 8/4, but it only gives me
options going back to 8/9 as the earliest date. Any other suggestions
in this vein?
Sheri
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Request for Question Clarification by
pafalafa-ga
on
23 Aug 2005 06:52 PDT
mysticsinger1-ga,
Ahhh...the joys of trying to undo what some monopoly has tried very
hard to make sure you can't undo!
Actually, the microsoft help page that was linked to earlier (in the
comments, below) DOES contain information about
uninstalling/reinstalling IE from the registry. It does not appear
you need the CDs in order to accomplish this.
If you scroll about half-way down the page, you'll see the following:
==========
Windows XP and Windows XP SP1: Edit the registry and install Internet Explorer 6
Warning If you use Registry Editor incorrectly, you may cause serious
problems that may require you to reinstall your operating system.
Microsoft cannot guarantee that you can solve problems that result
from using Registry Editor incorrectly. Use Registry Editor at your
own risk.
When you try to reinstall the same version of Internet Explorer, you
may receive the following error message:
Setup has detected a newer version of Internet Explorer already
installed on this system.
Setup cannot continue.
To avoid this error message and reinstall the same version of Internet
Explorer and Outlook Express, follow these steps:
1. While you are logged on as an administrator, click Start, and then click Run.
2. In the Open box, type regedit, and then click OK.
3. Locate the appropriate registry subkey, right-click the IsInstalled
(REG_DWORD) value, and then click Modify.
To reinstall only the Internet Explorer 6 browser component on Windows
XP, use the following registry key:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Active Setup\Installed
Components\{89820200-ECBD-11cf-8B85-00AA005B4383}
To reinstall only Outlook Express 6 on Windows XP, use the following registry key:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Active Setup\Installed
Components\{44BBA840-CC51-11CF-AAFA-00AA00B6015C}
4. Change the value data from 1 to 0, and then click OK.
5. Quit Registry Editor, and then install Internet Explorer 6.
6. To reinstall Windows XP updates, visit the following Microsoft Windows
Update Web site:
http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com/ (http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com/)
By default, Internet Explorer 6 is preinstalled in all versions of
Windows XP and cannot be removed. To provide computer manufacturers
more flexibility in configuring desktop versions of Windows XP,
Microsoft has made it possible for OEMs, administrators, and users to
remove user access to Internet Explorer while leaving the Internet
Explorer code intact and fully functional to make sure the
functionality of programs and operating system functions that rely on
it. For example, Windows XP supports an "IEAccess=off" switch in the
Unattend.txt file, and Internet Explorer has been added to the
Add/Remove Windows Components section of the Add/Remove Programs tool
in Control Panel.
This does not reinstall Internet Explorer.
==========
Everything perfectly clear now?!?!?!?
Give it a try, and let me know how it works out (and good luck!)
pafalafa-ga
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Request for Question Clarification by
pafalafa-ga
on
23 Aug 2005 06:53 PDT
From your original question, it wasn't clear that you stepped through
the entire procedure here, so I wanted to make sure you had the whole
enchilada.
paf
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Clarification of Question by
mysticsinger1-ga
on
23 Aug 2005 10:21 PDT
Hi Pafalafa-ga,
The only thing of that procedure that I had not done was to edit the
registry for Outlook Express 6. So I went through the procedure
again. Interesting to note that although I'd changed the registry for
IE from 1 to 0 last week, it was back to 1. So I changed both
registries as listed to 0. Closed all my apps. Clicked on
ie6setup.exe again. And yet again, it detects a newer version.
I did not reboot in between the regedit step and trying to reinstall.
Still at a loss.
Sheri
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Clarification of Question by
mysticsinger1-ga
on
23 Aug 2005 15:25 PDT
Okay, have now rebooted after editing the registry for both IE6 and
Outlook Express 6 as indicated in the comment from Paf. Upon
restarting, I got two messages - one said "Internet Explorer has been
removed from this computer. Do you want to clean up personalized
settings for this computer?" I clicked OK. Then it said "Outlook
Express 6 has been removed. Do you want to clean up..." same thing.
I clicked OK.
I then verified that the registries for both still said 0. They do.
I then tried to run ie6setup.exe. It still finds a newer version.
How is this possible?
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