can't remove ie8

I'm trying to remove Internet Explorer 8 completely from WinXP so I can
install IE6 and get Outlook Express back. But IE8 isn't listed in
Add/Remove Programs, and in the IE8 folder under Program Files there is no
uninstall file. I removed the IE8 folder completely, but I still can't
install IE6 because the installer finds some reference to IE8.

Can someone help me with this...I'm not sure where else to look for IE8
references.

John

jbclem wrote:
I'm trying to remove Internet Explorer 8 completely from WinXP so I can
install IE6 and get Outlook Express back. But IE8 isn't listed in
Add/Remove Programs, and in the IE8 folder under Program Files there is no
uninstall file. I removed the IE8 folder completely, but I still can't
install IE6 because the installer finds some reference to IE8.

Can someone help me with this...I'm not sure where else to look for IE8
references.

John



This is copied off my (dead) WinXP install. Which once had
IE8, and I later removed it. These logs are dropped in
C:\Windows if you're looking for them. You can see the
path printed out, as to what the uninstall process uses.

[ie8Uninst.log]
0.000: ================================================== ==============================
0.000: 2012/06/01 22:28:13.125 (local)
0.000: C:\WINDOWS\ie8\spuninst\spuninst.exe (version 6.3.15.0)

Apparently there was an uninstaller in the ie8 folder.

*******

The installer really isn't standalone, in the sense that it
uses Windows Update or other packages to add dependencies
the IE8 package needs. Perhaps some sort of graphics support.

IE8-WindowsXP-x86-ENU.exe 16,883,056 bytes

I have a previous version of IE8 installer, that was somewhat smaller.

Previous versions of IE, such as IE6, now that was a
proper standalone. It didn't hide what it was doing
from you (you make one of those for your own self, by
snagging the install folder when IE6 installs, then you
can use that folder forever, as an installer of IE6).

I had some install of IE8, that took a
significant portion of an hour, downloading other
stuff, but I haven't been able to reproduce that
one. Most other attempts only screwed around
for a minute or two. The installer doesn't tell you
what it is doing. Only those log files (which I never
noticed before), might contain hints.

*******

Once you remove the IE8 folder, you're cooked.
You can try re-installing the package, but it's going to
attempt to run the spuninst registered for the job, and
it's going to find it missing.

The reason Internet Explorer behaves strangely, is mshtml.dll
or similar ("the HTML engine") is a part of the OS. Key parts
of the OS rely on it for rendering. It can *never* go missing.
It might be in the windows folder itself, and perhaps your
"sweep" with the big hammer, didn't get it. This means that
one copy of IE must be installed at all times. When you
bump up to IE8, it replaces the engine. When you uninstall
IE8, it puts IE6 (or whatever was there previously) back
in control. So that there is always an "engine" component.
This is what happens, when parts of your OS are implemented
with HTML/activex/javascript or whatever. The ole bailing
wire and binder twine trick. Something I do not approve of.
The core components of the OS should be immutable, not
some hot potato the user is forever juggling. They should
not dangle this stuff in plain sight, so the user can get
themselves in trouble.

I'm not an IT guy and can't fix this for you. You can
try re-installing the package, but at this point,
I really can't see why that would work. This is not
like other packages. It always expects existing materials,
for the install or uninstall sequence to work. This is
the one time, you should *not* have deleted that folder :-/

If I did what you did, in my computer room here, right
now I'd have Macrium open, mount my last WinXP backup,
get that IE8 folder, copy it, and put it right back... :-)

Before you do anything else, make a backup, so you can
get back to a (semi) working system if need be. Maybe
you'll be doing additional desperate things, and having
a reference copy of the OS will come in handy later.

Note that even Repair Installing the OS, can have
"trouble" with IE versioning. Normally, the sage advice
is to down-level IE first, before doing the Repair Install,
which of course is impossible advice most of the time. I
think I discovered, during some experiment, that if
I Repair Installed the OS, then installed IE8 on top,
as long as the "final" IE level was the same as the
OS before Repair Install, it actually works OK. Repair
Installing something with as many Windows Updates as
that thing is going to need, isn't really all that
practical an option.

*******

These are examples of WinXP virtual machine files that
have a copy of the IE8 folder in them. But there's no
way of knowing whether one of these folders, exactly
aligns with the patch level of what you're running.
Still, it would give the spuninst.exe something to
chew on, on its way back to IE6 etc. These were offered
for download on Microsoft modern.ie web site, but
they were discontinued for download some time ago.
Right now, I think Windows 7 is the oldest OS on offer there.
You can try Googling on the SHA1 checksum and see
if there are copies around somewhere.

IE8.WinXP.For.WindowsVPC.exe 910,335,488 bytes
SHA1: 12E08B0B6AF6BF4B6FC3EE054F2F59A1509A86FB

IE8.XP.For.Windows.VirtualBox.zip 1,229,679,520 bytes
SHA1: 0A766326C61DEBDAC638EFD244042295B1113172

This would not be my first choice as a triage technique,
but if you don't have any other options (i.e. that backup
you made), you could go looking for a copy of one of those.
VPC2007 is the Microsoft hosting software that works with
the first file. Oracle VirtualBox is the hosting software
that runs the second one. The 7-ZIP version 16.04 utility,
can burrow into both those packages, all the way down
to the IE8 folder, so you don't need to install any
hosting software at all to get the folder out of there.
Just a copy of one of those files, plus the installation
of 7-ZIP, would get you inside those archives.

(7-ZIP, the all-purpose can opener...)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/7-zip

At this point, I'm hoping you have a backup.

Paul

jbclem wrote:
I'm trying to remove Internet Explorer 8 completely from WinXP so I can
install IE6 and get Outlook Express back. But IE8 isn't listed in
Add/Remove Programs, and in the IE8 folder under Program Files there is no
uninstall file. I removed the IE8 folder completely, but I still can't
install IE6 because the installer finds some reference to IE8.

Can someone help me with this...I'm not sure where else to look for IE8
references.

John

I don't understand why you would have to remove IE8 to get Outlook Express
back. But regardless, if I were in your position (and assuming you have no
system backup to fall back to), I'd search for an IE8 CD (possibly on eBay),
or perhaps you can find the complete IE8 setup file somewhere (and it will
be large), and just reinstall that. I would expect it to also give you an
updated Outlook Express in the process, too.

In message , jbclem
writes:
I'm trying to remove Internet Explorer 8 completely from WinXP so I can
install IE6 and get Outlook Express back. But IE8 isn't listed in
[]
Isn't OE standalone (i. e. just msimn.exe)? Or does it require other
files, DLLs, and so on.
--
J. P. Gilliver. UMRA: 1960/1985 MB++G()AL-IS-Ch++(p)Ar@T+H+Sh0!:`)DNAf

Religion is a name for opinion that cannot be argued about. [Heard on Radio 4,
2010-10-18, 9:xx.]

J. P. Gilliver (John) wrote:
In message , jbclem
writes:
I'm trying to remove Internet Explorer 8 completely from WinXP so I can
install IE6 and get Outlook Express back. But IE8 isn't listed in
[]
Isn't OE standalone (i. e. just msimn.exe)? Or does it require other
files, DLLs, and so on.

I think OE comes "packaged" with IE, so if you have one installed, you
should have the other. (At least that's how I remember it). That's why I
suggested he find a copy of IE8 on an old Microsoft CD (perhaps from ebay),
or the complete executable IE8 installer file somewhere on the Net.

On Sat, 4 Nov 2017 15:24:15 -0700, jbclem wrote:
I'm trying to remove Internet Explorer 8 completely from WinXP so I can
install IE6 and get Outlook Express back. But IE8 isn't listed in
Add/Remove Programs, and in the IE8 folder under Program Files there is no
uninstall file. I removed the IE8 folder completely, but I still can't
install IE6 because the installer finds some reference to IE8.

Can someone help me with this...I'm not sure where else to look for IE8
references.

John

The MSIE8 package doesn't include MSOE, so if somehow MSOE is gone, you'll
have to reinstall it from the Windows XP CD via "Add/Remove Windows
Component" dialog which is accessible from "Add or Remove Programs" control
panel.

Alternatively (recommended), you may want to use OE Classic which should
have more bug fixes than MSOE, and keep MSIE8 (for secutiry's sake).

https://www.oeclassic.com/

First, I checked the entire computer for spuninstal.exe before I did
anything. The only ones I found were tied to kb numbers. There was no
spuninstal.exe in the IE8 folder anywhere.

Second, before I deleted the folder I copied the entire IE8 folder to a
flash drive.
So I can easily copy it back, but I wonder if I unregistered it when I
deleted it. But also, I don't even know if it was registered as there was
no entry for it in Add/Remove Programs and no uninstall file. And since
there was no Outlook Express anywhere, that may also point to an
unregistered (improperly installed) IE8.

Also, I searched my computer for mshtml.dll and found three copies of it,
two are identical (4-14-2008) and one of these is in windows/system32 so
hopefully that's where it's supposed to be.

But you've given me a good idea, if IE8 comes with Outlook Express then if I
can find an installer for it maybe I can get it properly installed with an
uninstall file, and also Outlook Express. Although I was under the
impression that everything after Windows XP came with Microsoft Outlook.

I've run into mention of "Spoon.net - Sandboxed IE6 IE7 IE8 Standalone" but
haven't found one yet and don't know if it includes Outlook Express since
it's for people who are testing browsers.

Later...
I just found (and downloaded) IE8-WindowsXP-x86-ENU.exe (16,488 kb). Now
we'll see if it works, first I have to transfer it to a different computer.



"Paul" wrote in message
news
jbclem wrote:
I'm trying to remove Internet Explorer 8 completely from WinXP so I can
install IE6 and get Outlook Express back. But IE8 isn't listed in
Add/Remove Programs, and in the IE8 folder under Program Files there is
no uninstall file. I removed the IE8 folder completely, but I still
can't install IE6 because the installer finds some reference to IE8.

Can someone help me with this...I'm not sure where else to look for IE8
references.

John

This is copied off my (dead) WinXP install. Which once had
IE8, and I later removed it. These logs are dropped in
C:\Windows if you're looking for them. You can see the
path printed out, as to what the uninstall process uses.

[ie8Uninst.log]
0.000:
================================================== ==============================
0.000: 2012/06/01 22:28:13.125 (local)
0.000: C:\WINDOWS\ie8\spuninst\spuninst.exe (version 6.3.15.0)

Apparently there was an uninstaller in the ie8 folder.

*******

The installer really isn't standalone, in the sense that it
uses Windows Update or other packages to add dependencies
the IE8 package needs. Perhaps some sort of graphics support.

IE8-WindowsXP-x86-ENU.exe 16,883,056 bytes

I have a previous version of IE8 installer, that was somewhat smaller.

Previous versions of IE, such as IE6, now that was a
proper standalone. It didn't hide what it was doing
from you (you make one of those for your own self, by
snagging the install folder when IE6 installs, then you
can use that folder forever, as an installer of IE6).

I had some install of IE8, that took a
significant portion of an hour, downloading other
stuff, but I haven't been able to reproduce that
one. Most other attempts only screwed around
for a minute or two. The installer doesn't tell you
what it is doing. Only those log files (which I never
noticed before), might contain hints.

*******

Once you remove the IE8 folder, you're cooked.
You can try re-installing the package, but it's going to
attempt to run the spuninst registered for the job, and
it's going to find it missing.

The reason Internet Explorer behaves strangely, is mshtml.dll
or similar ("the HTML engine") is a part of the OS. Key parts
of the OS rely on it for rendering. It can *never* go missing.
It might be in the windows folder itself, and perhaps your
"sweep" with the big hammer, didn't get it. This means that
one copy of IE must be installed at all times. When you
bump up to IE8, it replaces the engine. When you uninstall
IE8, it puts IE6 (or whatever was there previously) back
in control. So that there is always an "engine" component.
This is what happens, when parts of your OS are implemented
with HTML/activex/javascript or whatever. The ole bailing
wire and binder twine trick. Something I do not approve of.
The core components of the OS should be immutable, not
some hot potato the user is forever juggling. They should
not dangle this stuff in plain sight, so the user can get
themselves in trouble.

I'm not an IT guy and can't fix this for you. You can
try re-installing the package, but at this point,
I really can't see why that would work. This is not
like other packages. It always expects existing materials,
for the install or uninstall sequence to work. This is
the one time, you should *not* have deleted that folder :-/

If I did what you did, in my computer room here, right
now I'd have Macrium open, mount my last WinXP backup,
get that IE8 folder, copy it, and put it right back... :-)

Before you do anything else, make a backup, so you can
get back to a (semi) working system if need be. Maybe
you'll be doing additional desperate things, and having
a reference copy of the OS will come in handy later.

Note that even Repair Installing the OS, can have
"trouble" with IE versioning. Normally, the sage advice
is to down-level IE first, before doing the Repair Install,
which of course is impossible advice most of the time. I
think I discovered, during some experiment, that if
I Repair Installed the OS, then installed IE8 on top,
as long as the "final" IE level was the same as the
OS before Repair Install, it actually works OK. Repair
Installing something with as many Windows Updates as
that thing is going to need, isn't really all that
practical an option.

*******

These are examples of WinXP virtual machine files that
have a copy of the IE8 folder in them. But there's no
way of knowing whether one of these folders, exactly
aligns with the patch level of what you're running.
Still, it would give the spuninst.exe something to
chew on, on its way back to IE6 etc. These were offered
for download on Microsoft modern.ie web site, but
they were discontinued for download some time ago.
Right now, I think Windows 7 is the oldest OS on offer there.
You can try Googling on the SHA1 checksum and see
if there are copies around somewhere.

IE8.WinXP.For.WindowsVPC.exe 910,335,488 bytes
SHA1: 12E08B0B6AF6BF4B6FC3EE054F2F59A1509A86FB

IE8.XP.For.Windows.VirtualBox.zip 1,229,679,520 bytes
SHA1: 0A766326C61DEBDAC638EFD244042295B1113172

This would not be my first choice as a triage technique,
but if you don't have any other options (i.e. that backup
you made), you could go looking for a copy of one of those.
VPC2007 is the Microsoft hosting software that works with
the first file. Oracle VirtualBox is the hosting software
that runs the second one. The 7-ZIP version 16.04 utility,
can burrow into both those packages, all the way down
to the IE8 folder, so you don't need to install any
hosting software at all to get the folder out of there.
Just a copy of one of those files, plus the installation
of 7-ZIP, would get you inside those archives.

(7-ZIP, the all-purpose can opener...)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/7-zip

At this point, I'm hoping you have a backup.

Paul

jbclem wrote:
First, I checked the entire computer for spuninstal.exe before I did
anything. The only ones I found were tied to kb numbers. There was no
spuninstal.exe in the IE8 folder anywhere.

Second, before I deleted the folder I copied the entire IE8 folder to a
flash drive.
So I can easily copy it back, but I wonder if I unregistered it when I
deleted it. But also, I don't even know if it was registered as there was
no entry for it in Add/Remove Programs and no uninstall file. And since
there was no Outlook Express anywhere, that may also point to an
unregistered (improperly installed) IE8.

Also, I searched my computer for mshtml.dll and found three copies of it,
two are identical (4-14-2008) and one of these is in windows/system32 so
hopefully that's where it's supposed to be.

But you've given me a good idea, if IE8 comes with Outlook Express then if I
can find an installer for it maybe I can get it properly installed with an
uninstall file, and also Outlook Express. Although I was under the
impression that everything after Windows XP came with Microsoft Outlook.

I've run into mention of "Spoon.net - Sandboxed IE6 IE7 IE8 Standalone" but
haven't found one yet and don't know if it includes Outlook Express since
it's for people who are testing browsers.

Later...
I just found (and downloaded) IE8-WindowsXP-x86-ENU.exe (16,488 kb). Now
we'll see if it works, first I have to transfer it to a different computer.

Well, see at the very least, if you have this.

C:\WINDOWS\ie8\spuninst\spuninst.exe

That will allow you to install IE8 again, after the
current copy of IE8 is removed.

http://download.microsoft.com/downlo...XP-x86-ENU.exe

In any case, once you put the IE8 folder back, you can
get back to work on some of the other posters suggestions
for getting Outlook Express to work.

Paul

In message , jbclem
writes:
[]
uninstall file, and also Outlook Express. Although I was under the
impression that everything after Windows XP came with Microsoft Outlook.
[]
Outlook is part of Office. Some (maybe all?) versions of some later
versions of Windows (I don't think including Vista) come with a "taster"
version of Office; I don't know if that taster version includes Outlook.
(It's mainly a - somewhat limited - version of Word, and I think of
Excel.)
--
J. P. Gilliver. UMRA: 1960/1985 MB++G()AL-IS-Ch++(p)Ar@T+H+Sh0!:`)DNAf

"Everyone is entitled to an *informed* opinion." - Harlan Ellison

In message , Bill in Co
writes:
J. P. Gilliver (John) wrote:
In message , jbclem
writes:
I'm trying to remove Internet Explorer 8 completely from WinXP so I can
install IE6 and get Outlook Express back. But IE8 isn't listed in
[]
Isn't OE standalone (i. e. just msimn.exe)? Or does it require other
files, DLLs, and so on.

I think OE comes "packaged" with IE, so if you have one installed, you
should have the other. (At least that's how I remember it). That's why I
suggested he find a copy of IE8 on an old Microsoft CD (perhaps from ebay),
or the complete executable IE8 installer file somewhere on the Net.

Or instal it from the XP CD, as JJ suggests (via Add/Remove Windows
Components - note _not_ Add/Remove Programs).

I was just thinking, if msinm.exe _is_ standalone, the executable might
just be copyable from somewhere. (I have two copies - both dated
2008-4-14, but 69 KB [60,416 bytes] - in C:\WINDOWS\system32\dllcache,
and C:\Program Files\Outlook Express. Version 6.0.2900.5512.)

Here's what are in that folder, if it's any use to anyone:

Directory of C:\Program Files\Outlook Express

2016-03-08 19:52 DIR .
2016-03-08 19:52 DIR ..
2008-04-14 12:00 60,416 msimn.exe
2010-01-29 15:01 1,315,328 msoe.dll
2008-04-14 12:00 133 msoe.txt
2008-04-14 12:00 2,479,616 msoeres.dll
2008-04-14 12:00 104,448 oeimport.dll
2008-04-14 12:00 60,416 oemig50.exe
2008-04-14 12:00 35,328 oemiglib.dll
2008-04-14 12:00 73,216 setup50.exe
2010-10-11 14:59 45,568 wab.exe
2016-02-08 20:39 32,768 wabfind.dll
2016-02-08 20:39 84,992 wabimp.dll
2016-02-08 01:24 30,208 wabmig.exe
12 File(s) 4,322,437 bytes
--
J. P. Gilliver. UMRA: 1960/1985 MB++G()AL-IS-Ch++(p)Ar@T+H+Sh0!:`)DNAf

"Everyone is entitled to an *informed* opinion." - Harlan Ellison