How to Uninstall Internet Explorer 9: A Comprehensive Guide
Internet Explorer 9, while a significant improvement over its predecessors, is now quite outdated. You might want to uninstall it to free up space, resolve compatibility issues, or simply to switch to a more modern browser like Chrome, Firefox, or Edge. This comprehensive guide provides detailed, step-by-step instructions on how to uninstall Internet Explorer 9 from your Windows operating system. It caters to various scenarios and includes troubleshooting tips to ensure a smooth process. Before we begin, it’s crucial to understand that Internet Explorer is deeply integrated into older versions of Windows, and uninstalling it might affect some system functionalities. However, Windows will usually revert to the previous version of Internet Explorer (likely IE8) or prompt you to install a newer version if necessary. This guide will primarily focus on uninstalling IE9 on Windows Vista and Windows 7, as these were the operating systems it primarily targeted.
Understanding the Uninstall Process
Unlike standalone applications, Internet Explorer is considered a Windows feature. Therefore, you won’t find it listed in the standard Programs and Features window like other software. Instead, you need to access the ‘Windows Features’ section to uninstall it. This section manages components that are tightly woven into the operating system.
Uninstalling IE9 effectively reverts it to the previous version of Internet Explorer that was installed on your system. If you upgraded from IE8 to IE9, uninstalling IE9 will bring back IE8. If you upgraded from IE7 to IE9 (skipping IE8), the system might attempt to restore to IE7, although this scenario is less common.
Before proceeding, it’s always a good practice to create a system restore point. This allows you to revert your system to a previous state if anything goes wrong during the uninstall process. Here’s how to create a system restore point:
1. **Close all open programs:** Ensure no applications are running in the background that could interfere with the process.
2. **Search for ‘Create a restore point’:** Type ‘Create a restore point’ in the Windows search bar (located in the Start Menu or Taskbar) and select the ‘Create a restore point’ Control Panel option.
3. **System Protection tab:** This will open the System Properties window with the ‘System Protection’ tab selected.
4. **Select your system drive:** In the ‘Protection Settings’ section, ensure that system protection is ‘On’ for your system drive (usually the C: drive). If it’s off, click ‘Configure…’ and select ‘Turn on system protection’. Allocate some disk space for restore points and click ‘Apply’ and ‘OK’.
5. **Click ‘Create…’:** Click the ‘Create…’ button in the System Protection tab.
6. **Enter a description:** In the ‘System Protection’ dialog box, type a descriptive name for the restore point (e.g., ‘Before Uninstalling IE9’) and click ‘Create’.
7. **Wait for the process to complete:** Windows will create the restore point, which may take a few minutes. Once completed, a confirmation message will appear. Click ‘Close’.
Step-by-Step Guide to Uninstalling Internet Explorer 9
Follow these detailed steps to uninstall Internet Explorer 9 from your Windows system:
**Method 1: Using the Programs and Features Window**
This is the most common and recommended method for uninstalling Internet Explorer 9.
1. **Close all open programs and Internet Explorer windows:** Ensure that Internet Explorer and all other applications are closed to prevent conflicts during the uninstall process.
2. **Open the Control Panel:**
* **Windows Vista:** Click the Start button and select ‘Control Panel’.
* **Windows 7:** Click the Start button and select ‘Control Panel’.
3. **Navigate to Programs and Features:**
* **Windows Vista:** If you’re in ‘Category’ view, click ‘Uninstall a program’ under the ‘Programs’ section. If you’re in ‘Classic View’, double-click ‘Programs and Features’.
* **Windows 7:** If you’re in ‘Category’ view, click ‘Uninstall a program’ under the ‘Programs’ section. If you’re in ‘Large icons’ or ‘Small icons’ view, click ‘Programs and Features’.
4. **Access ‘Turn Windows features on or off’:**
* In the ‘Programs and Features’ window, look for the option ‘Turn Windows features on or off’ in the left-hand sidebar and click it. You might be prompted to provide administrator permission. Click ‘Continue’ or ‘Yes’ if prompted.
5. **Locate Internet Explorer 9:** A new window titled ‘Windows Features’ will appear. Scroll down the list of features until you find ‘Internet Explorer 9’.
6. **Uncheck the box next to ‘Internet Explorer 9’:** Click the checkbox next to ‘Internet Explorer 9’ to uncheck it. A warning message will appear, stating, “Turning off Internet Explorer 9 might affect other Windows features and programs. Do you want to continue?”.
7. **Confirm the uninstall:** Click ‘Yes’ to confirm that you want to proceed with uninstalling Internet Explorer 9.
8. **Wait for the process to complete:** Windows will begin uninstalling Internet Explorer 9. This process might take a few minutes. A progress bar will indicate the status of the uninstall.
9. **Restart your computer:** Once the uninstall is complete, you will be prompted to restart your computer. Click ‘Restart now’ to restart immediately. Restarting is crucial for the changes to take effect. If you cannot restart immediately, you can choose ‘Restart later’, but it’s highly recommended to restart as soon as possible.
10. **Verify the uninstallation:** After your computer restarts, check to see if Internet Explorer 9 has been successfully uninstalled. You can do this by opening Internet Explorer. If the uninstallation was successful, you should see the previous version of Internet Explorer (e.g., Internet Explorer 8) or be prompted to install a more recent version.
**Method 2: Using Command Prompt (Advanced Users)**
This method is more technical and requires a command prompt with administrator privileges. Use this method only if you are comfortable working with command-line interfaces.
1. **Open Command Prompt as Administrator:**
* **Windows Vista:** Click the Start button, type ‘cmd’ in the search box, right-click on ‘Command Prompt’ in the search results, and select ‘Run as administrator’.
* **Windows 7:** Click the Start button, type ‘cmd’ in the search box, right-click on ‘Command Prompt’ in the search results, and select ‘Run as administrator’.
2. **Confirm Administrator Privileges:** A User Account Control (UAC) prompt may appear asking if you want to allow the following program to make changes to this computer. Click ‘Yes’ to continue.
3. **Execute the Uninstall Command:** In the Command Prompt window, type the following command and press Enter:
`FORFILES /P %WINDIR%\servicing\Packages /M Microsoft-Windows-InternetExplorer-*9*.mum /c “cmd /c echo Uninstalling package @fname && start /w pkgmgr /up:@fname /norestart`
This command searches for all Internet Explorer 9 packages and initiates their uninstallation. The `/norestart` option prevents the computer from restarting automatically after each package is uninstalled. This allows for a single restart at the end of the process.
4. **Wait for the Uninstallation Process:** The command prompt will display messages indicating the progress of the uninstallation. This process may take several minutes. Be patient and allow it to complete.
5. **Restart Your Computer:** After the uninstallation process is complete, type `shutdown /r /t 0` in the Command Prompt and press Enter to restart your computer. This command initiates an immediate restart. Alternatively, you can manually restart your computer through the Start Menu.
6. **Verify the Uninstallation:** After your computer restarts, verify that Internet Explorer 9 has been successfully uninstalled by opening Internet Explorer and checking its version.
**Important Considerations for Command Prompt Method:**
* **Case Sensitivity:** The commands in Command Prompt are generally not case-sensitive, but it’s good practice to type them correctly.
* **Typographical Errors:** Ensure you type the command exactly as shown. A single typo can prevent the command from executing correctly.
* **Administrator Privileges:** Running Command Prompt as an administrator is crucial. Without administrator privileges, the uninstallation process will fail.
* **Firewall/Antivirus Interference:** Sometimes, firewalls or antivirus software can interfere with the uninstallation process. Temporarily disabling them (at your own risk) might resolve the issue, but remember to re-enable them immediately after the uninstallation.
Troubleshooting Common Issues
Uninstalling Internet Explorer 9 can sometimes encounter issues. Here are some common problems and their solutions:
* **Error Message: “An error occurred while attempting to uninstall Internet Explorer 9″**
* **Cause:** This error can be caused by various factors, including corrupted system files, incomplete installations, or conflicts with other software.
* **Solutions:**
* **Run System File Checker (SFC):** SFC is a built-in Windows utility that scans for and repairs corrupted system files. To run SFC, open Command Prompt as administrator (as described in Method 2) and type `sfc /scannow` and press Enter. Allow the scan to complete. It may take a considerable amount of time. Restart your computer after the scan is finished.
* **Use the System Update Readiness Tool (CheckSUR):** This tool is designed to fix issues that prevent Windows updates from being installed, which can sometimes also resolve problems with uninstalling Internet Explorer. Download and run the appropriate version of CheckSUR for your operating system from the Microsoft website. Search for “System Update Readiness Tool” on the Microsoft Support website.
* **Perform a Clean Boot:** A clean boot starts Windows with a minimal set of drivers and startup programs. This can help identify if a third-party application is interfering with the uninstall process. To perform a clean boot, type `msconfig` in the Windows search bar and press Enter. In the System Configuration window, go to the ‘Services’ tab, check ‘Hide all Microsoft services’, and then click ‘Disable all’. Go to the ‘Startup’ tab and click ‘Open Task Manager’. Disable all startup items in Task Manager. Restart your computer. After the clean boot, try uninstalling Internet Explorer again. Remember to revert the changes after uninstalling IE9.
* **Check for Pending Windows Updates:** Ensure that all available Windows updates are installed. Sometimes, pending updates can interfere with other system processes. Go to Control Panel -> Windows Update and check for updates.
* **Internet Explorer 9 is not listed in ‘Turn Windows features on or off’.**
* **Cause:** This can happen if Internet Explorer 9 was not properly installed or if there are issues with the Windows Features list.
* **Solutions:**
* **Ensure Internet Explorer 9 is actually installed:** Double-check that you actually have IE9 installed. If you have a different version, the steps for uninstalling will be different.
* **Refresh the Windows Features list:** Sometimes, the list needs to be refreshed. Close the ‘Windows Features’ window, wait a few minutes, and then reopen it.
* **Use the DISM Tool:** The Deployment Image Servicing and Management (DISM) tool can be used to repair the Windows image. Open Command Prompt as administrator and type the following command: `DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth` and press Enter. Allow the process to complete, which may take some time. Restart your computer and try accessing the ‘Windows Features’ list again.
* **Uninstall process hangs or freezes.**
* **Cause:** This could be due to resource conflicts, corrupted files, or background processes interfering with the uninstall.
* **Solutions:**
* **Close unnecessary programs:** Close all open applications and background processes to free up system resources.
* **Restart your computer in Safe Mode:** Restart your computer and repeatedly press the F8 key (or Shift+F8 on some systems) during startup to access the Advanced Boot Options menu. Select ‘Safe Mode’ and press Enter. Try uninstalling Internet Explorer in Safe Mode. Safe Mode starts Windows with a minimal set of drivers and services, which can help avoid conflicts.
* **Check Disk for Errors:** Run the Check Disk utility to scan for and repair errors on your hard drive. Open Command Prompt as administrator and type `chkdsk /f /r` and press Enter. You will be prompted to schedule the disk check to run on the next restart. Type `Y` and press Enter. Restart your computer.
* **After uninstalling, the computer behaves strangely or some programs don’t work.**
* **Cause:** Uninstalling Internet Explorer can sometimes affect other programs that rely on its components. It can also corrupt registry entries.
* **Solutions:**
* **Restore your system from the restore point:** If you created a system restore point before uninstalling Internet Explorer (as recommended), you can restore your system to that point. Type ‘System Restore’ in the Windows search bar and press Enter. Select ‘Choose a different restore point’ and follow the prompts to restore your system to the restore point you created earlier.
* **Reinstall Internet Explorer (or upgrade to a newer version):** Reinstalling Internet Explorer can sometimes resolve compatibility issues. You can download the installer for Internet Explorer 9 (or a newer version, if available) from the Microsoft website. However, it’s generally recommended to upgrade to a more modern browser like Chrome, Firefox, or Edge, as they offer better security and performance.
* **Run the System File Checker (SFC):** As mentioned earlier, SFC can repair corrupted system files that might be causing the problems.
Alternative Browsers
After uninstalling Internet Explorer 9, you’ll likely want to install a more modern and secure web browser. Here are some popular alternatives:
* **Google Chrome:** A widely used browser known for its speed, extensive extension library, and integration with Google services.
* **Mozilla Firefox:** An open-source browser that prioritizes privacy and customization options.
* **Microsoft Edge:** The successor to Internet Explorer, offering improved performance, security, and features.
* **Opera:** A browser with built-in VPN, ad blocker, and other unique features.
Conclusion
Uninstalling Internet Explorer 9 is a straightforward process, especially when using the ‘Turn Windows features on or off’ method. However, it’s essential to follow the steps carefully and create a system restore point beforehand to safeguard against potential issues. If you encounter any problems, the troubleshooting tips provided in this guide should help you resolve them. Remember to choose a modern web browser after uninstalling IE9 to enjoy a safer and more efficient browsing experience. While IE9 was a step forward in its time, modern browsers offer significant improvements in security, performance, and features. By switching to a newer browser, you’ll benefit from enhanced protection against online threats, faster page loading times, and access to the latest web technologies.
Finally, consider the security implications of using outdated software. Internet Explorer 9 is no longer supported by Microsoft, meaning it doesn’t receive security updates. This makes it vulnerable to malware and other online threats. Upgrading to a modern browser is crucial for protecting your computer and your personal information.
