Hello, This is my first visit to the site after coming upon the website by chance, looking for instructions on how to rid my computer of the remnants of explorer 8. Totally hopeless with the technical side of a computer, it is simply a totally different language, therefore need someone who is a guru in these matters. I picked up from an article that if I put C:\windows\ie8\spuninst\folder(your drive letter may be different) and run spuninst.exe. then restart computer. This may sound dandy to those in the know, but I'm sorry if I appear stupid it does not to me. How do i know if my drive letter is different - where is this information. Where exactly does the C etc link go - in my browser? I need help, for the whole business is driving me insane! Look forward to one of you experts coming to the aid of a complete novice, but I warn you, the instructions have got to be put in a way that a child would understand. Thanks in advance Nina Bagnall
You have two explorers on a windows PC. IE or internet explorer is the browser, and WE or Windows Explorer is your basic file tree display. In XP's Windows Explorer (start > all programs > Accessories > Windows Explorer) you can view all the data and files stored on your PC except those hidden in the file options (at the top of WE select Tools > Folder Options > View) and in there you should put a check mark in "display the contents of system folders" "show hidden files and folders" and uncheck "hide extentions for known files types". In this way your Windows Explorer will show you almost everything. In explorer you will see your C drive and any other drives you may have like another hard drive (D) or optical dvd drives (E). You can right click on any of them and view their properties. So for your IE8 uninstall you would trace the path C > Windows > IE8. But, if you want to remove IE8 why not do it from Control Panel > Add/Remove Programs (XP), or Vista - Win7 Control Panel > Programs and Features. I have to tell you though I have never been happy with IE after removing IE7 or IE8 and usually end up either reformatting the drive or running a non-destructive reinstall of the XP OS (requires a retail disk, Vista or 7 do not have this function). The non-destructive reinstall of XP works by using your retail XP disk to boot and then skip the first repair option (recovery console) and continue as if your going to do a fresh install, then around the F8 accept license screen it will again scan the PC see an OS already there and offer the second repair option. All your data and programs remain intact but you lose all the critical updates not on your install disk. For that reason most experienced users integrate the latest SP's and hot fixes to their disk with nlite. Learning to navigate Windows Explorer is the key to knowing where everything is, or going to. You can make your own folders and point your download Apps to them and things like that. If you name a folder like 0Down, since 0 comes before any letter it will end up at the top of any folder or directory you make it in, and be easy too find.
Might also add that removing an IE update is not always easy, since IE insinuates itself into so many parts of the system. You are probably better leaving IE8 on, and installing an alternative browser for Web use. Mozilla Firefox from mozilla.com is the 'de facto' alternative, though some people prefer Opera or Google Chrome. Any of these is better (and safer against malware) than Internet Explorer. The other option you can try (for removing IE8) is System Restore. This is on the Start>All Programs menu, under Accessories>System Tools.