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A feature spotted in beta versions of Windows 7 could be an indicator that Microsoft will allow users of the operating system to switch off Internet Explorer. One of the features in build 7048 of Windows 7 includes a "Windows Features" dialog box, which allows certain applications and software functions to be switched off. One of those is Internet Explorer 8, and Media Player can also be disabled. “I couldn’t believe this when I saw it, but it’s true,” said Windows enthusiast Chris Holmes, who spotted the feature. “Internet Explorer 8 is fully removable in Windows 7 build 7048. I believe this fully squashes the case that the EU has against Microsoft?” The Eu has fined Microsoft heavily for tying Internet Explorer closely into the Windows operating system. The company has also had to provide copies of the operating system for sale that don't include the browser. However, while features can be turned off it is not an easy process. “There is a catch: For now, this only seems to wipe the actual executable running Internet Explorer 8 (iexplore.exe), but given that many of the most vocal proponents of choice were just looking for an option to functionally remove IE8, this might’ve been the only way to do it without killing the rest of Windows,” said a posting on the AeroXperince blog, a site for Windows developers. “In addition, this actually takes two reboots and a configuration step to complete, so there’s definitely something going on behind the scenes (likely a remapping of where IE-related functions can be found for other elements in Windows so that Windows doesn’t complain about IE’s nonexistence).”
theres no possible way to 'remove' (in the uninstall sense) internet explorer.... but one has had the option to "turn it off" since at least 2kSP4 too many apps (incl winmx) depend on it and the shell of windows itself has been based on it since windows 98..... so where does one draw the line between the browser and the os?
How do you all feel about the new taskbar? With those "previews" instead of the actual text?
no no... if you set IEs proxy setting to localhost you might find a lot of other apps not able to connect (as they pull their settings from IE)there is a 'disallowrun' registry key (lookit microsoft for it) that can stop iexplore.exe from running but it -still- wont stop the shell from accessing webpages...
Internet Explorer 8 cannot be uninstalled from Windows 7. According to Mayo, any feature that's turned off "will not be available for use, which means binaries and data are not loaded by the operating system (for security-conscious customers) and not available to users on the computer."These same files are staged so that the features can easily be added back to the running OS without additional media. This staging is important feedback we have received from customers who definitely do not like to dig up the installation DVD," he continued.
