How to Remove and Reinstall Internet Explorer
Internet Explorer, once the dominant web browser, has seen a decline in popularity with the rise of other browsers like Chrome and Firefox. However, there are still instances where Internet Explorer is required, such as when certain websites or applications only support it. If you find yourself needing to remove and reinstall Internet Explorer on your Windows computer, here is a step-by-step guide to help you through the process.
Step 1: Uninstall Internet Explorer
Before reinstalling Internet Explorer, you need to ensure that it is completely uninstalled from your system. To do this, follow these steps:
1. Open the Control Panel by clicking on the Start button and selecting “Control Panel.”
2. In the Control Panel, click on “Programs” and then “Programs and Features.”
3. Scroll through the list of installed programs and locate “Internet Explorer.”
4. Select “Internet Explorer” and click on “Uninstall.”
5. Follow the prompts to complete the uninstallation process.
Step 2: Clean Up Leftover Files
After uninstalling Internet Explorer, there may still be leftover files and registry entries on your computer. To ensure a clean installation, it’s essential to remove these files. You can use a third-party cleaning tool or follow these manual steps:
1. Open the Windows Search bar and type “regedit” to open the Registry Editor.
2. Navigate to the following key: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall
3. Look for the “Internet Explorer” entry and delete it.
4. Close the Registry Editor and restart your computer.
Step 3: Reinstall Internet Explorer
Now that Internet Explorer is uninstalled and the leftover files are cleaned up, you can proceed with the installation. Since Internet Explorer is no longer available for download from Microsoft, you’ll need to use a third-party source. Here’s how to do it:
1. Visit a trusted website that offers a clean download of Internet Explorer. One such website is OldVersion.com.
2. Download the Internet Explorer installer for your specific Windows version.
3. Open the downloaded file and follow the on-screen instructions to install Internet Explorer.
Step 4: Verify Installation
After the installation is complete, verify that Internet Explorer has been successfully reinstalled. To do this:
1. Click on the Start button and type “Internet Explorer” in the search bar.
2. Click on the Internet Explorer icon to open the browser.
3. If the browser opens without any issues, you have successfully reinstalled Internet Explorer.
By following these steps, you can remove and reinstall Internet Explorer on your Windows computer. While it’s recommended to use more modern and secure browsers, there may still be scenarios where Internet Explorer is necessary.
