Reverting to IE6 3

[Gavona]

I currently have IE7 installed. Some software I need to use will not work with IE7 but does work with IE6. How can I re-install IE6?
Ideally i should like both IE6 and IE7 available?
Do I need to reconfigure Windows update to avoid re-upgrading to IE7?

Background:
I work from home using my home PC to access emails and files at work using a product called Neoteris. Since IE7 I have been unable to access our SAP portal. Since an upgrade to solve that problem today I have been unable to access either SAP or some files. My company's IT support is pursuing of course but in the meantime....


Gavin

 

[stduc]

Simply go to add/remove programs, tick the 'show updates' box, scroll down and remove fixes to IE7 and then IE7.

 

[bfamo]

here's a link to what stduc said.

http://www.microsoft.com/windows/products/winfamily/ie/iefaq.mspx

Click on "How do I install/uninstall Internet Explorer 7?"

However, I would recommend Mozilla Firefox 2 rather than IE6, brilliant browser!

 

[Gavona]

Well, Firefox 1.5 doesn't work either as far as access to the SAP Portal is concerned, shame because I like it too. I will check if I can get into my folders with Firefox though.
bfamo: I don't understand "Firefox 2". Firefox 1.5.0.9 is the latest isn't it?

stduc: I am trying that now. Long list of things I have installed since that may not work if I go ahead but I'll just bite the bullet. Won't know the outcome until I re-start.

Thanks both,


Gavin

 

[Gavona]

Well I did as suggested by stduc and IE did not load.

I searched for ie*.exe and found a copy of iexplore.exe at C:\program files\internet explorer
and another at
C:\windows\system32\dllcache

Clicking on the first gives me a momentary hourglass
The second loads IE 6.0 - seems ok but I would guess this is not in the right location.

What next?


Gavin

 

[Glenn9999]

bfamo: I don't understand "Firefox 2". Firefox 1.5.0.9 is the latest isn't it?

No, 2.0.0.1 is the latest. Released not long after IE 7 was released.

 

[linney]

Have you tried System Restore yet? See what happens if you revert back to before IE7 came aboard. Try System Restore from Safe Mode you may have a better outcome.

 

[PatrickIRL]

I did this also and got the same error, I rebooted and it worked fine.

Hope this helps,

Patrick

 

[stduc]

I tried it on a test PC just to be sure.

First I removed IE7 security updates & got some warnings about other programs may not work if I did this.

Then I removed IE7 and got more warnings. The process finally forced a re-boot, meanwhile of course updates were ready! So on shutdown I selected the option 'shutdown without installing updates' - The PC booted and I had IE6 back - no problems.

So it works - but not for everyone it seems.

Personally I take an image backup using trueimage before I play around like this on a PC I need. That way I am sure I can restore back to square 1 if I have to.

 

[bfamo]

I've got a suggestion that will solve all your problems

Install Firefox 2.0.0.1.
Go here

https://addons.mozilla.org/firefox/1419/

and get the IE plugin to firefox. This plugin enables you to run firefox-incompatible sites in IE through firefox. Just press the small icon in the lower right corner in firefox, and it reloads it through IE. smart.

 

[Grenage]

How will calling IE7 from another program make it work with a product that won't work with IE7?

Carlsberg don't run I.T departments, but if they did they'd probably be more fun.

 

[bfamo]

IE7 has been uninstalled, the plugin calls IE6 from system32.

 

[stduc]

I wonder if using add/remove programs - windows components would work? untick internet explorer to uninstall it completely - then repeat but tick and install from an XP CD-ROM and then accept updates to IE6 manually?

 

[Gavona]

Thanks for all these ideas. Can someone confirm please:

I have iexplore.exe in C:\windows\system32\dllcache and it seems to run ie ok. Do I have a real problem? Does the "cache" bit mean that at some time someprocess will clear my cache and I will lose it?
Could I just delete the version of the file at C:\program files\internet explorer and replace it with the 'good' one?

I will try Stduc's idea - tomorrow on my desktop. Not sure about it for my HP laptop as it didn't come with an XP cd.

I am nervous about system restore to a savepoint more than a month ago - I have installed and used a few programmes since and wouldn't want to risk losing any associated files I have created.


Gavin

 

[1101doc]

ATTENTION: the .dll cache of system32 is a system folder that stores all the important functions of XP. PLEASE be very careful in there! The IE.exe therin will be the version of IE that installed with Windows. If the initial installation of Windows was at a time when IE 6 was included, simply uninstalling IE7 from "Add/Remove Programs" will cause the version native to the system to manifest-complete with customizations.(bookmarks, etc.) Earlier versions of XP may revert to IE5.5. That will be updateable. NO files are ever deleted/lost when using System Restore. Changes are made to System settings and configuration only. The registry changes made DO often require re-installation of programs installed after the date chosen for restoration. (The registry entries do not exist at the point in time to which the system reverted.)

 

[smah]

From a command prompt, run sfc /scannow. This will copy any required files from the dll cache back to whereever they belong.

 

[linney]

These might help you understand the Dll cache and the other matter raised.

System File Checker (SFC.exe).

310747 - Description of Windows XP and Windows Server 2003 System File Checker (Sfc.exe)

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;310747&FR=1&PA=1&SD=HSCH

Windows File Protection Feature.

222193 - Description of the Windows File Protection Feature

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;222193&FR=1&PA=1&SD=HSCH

Microsoft Windows XP System Restore.

http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/d...y/en-us/dnwxp/html/windowsxpsystemrestore.asp

 

[Gavona]

Solved!
1. I tried "add/remove programs, tick the 'show updates' box, scroll down and remove fixes to IE7 and then IE7"
C:\windows\system32\dllcache\iexplore.exe worked but all the links (Start Programs.. ) were to C:\program files\internet explorer\iexplore.exe which did not work.

2. I did not try bfamo's suggestion but because I felt I wanted to resolve the source problem. However I have now installed Firefox 2 and will have a look at that option.

3. I tried "using add/remove programs - windows components would work? untick internet explorer to uninstall it completely - then repeat but tick and install from an XP CD-ROM and then accept updates to IE6 manually?". Unfortunately stduc this did not work either. (Weirdly perhaps I did not have to use my XP CD to re-install ie?)

4. So I turned to smah's suggestion

From a command prompt, run sfc /scannow. This will copy any required files from the dll cache back to whereever they belong.

This took ages to run but fixed the problem.

I will now repeat the process on my laptop (Once the family let me have a turn!)and see what happens.

Thanks again everyone!


Gavin

 

[Gavona]

That was easy. On the laptop step 1 worked with no problems. (No idea why it worked on one pc but not the other.)
Thanks stduc!


Gavin

 

[smah]

Glad that you figured out my messed up formatting: sfc /scannow