Why Doesn't IE Reinstall Work?

[quantass]

A friend's IE browser has been hijacked and we wanted to do a repair/reinstall in order to get it to avoid those "page not found" repsonses. Of course this didnt help and then we were pointed to HiJackThis.

My question is why is there no way of completely deinstalling IE and reinstalling it, that way any hijackers are removed/ignored since this is a fresh copy? This fresh reinstall clears out any compounding list of registry entries and BHO and only reinserts what is the bare min'm as stated from its install package. All areas of the registry deemed necessary by the browser is flushed out and reused as if this were a clean first-time copy of IE.

[CompGeek01]

You can't truly uninstall IE becuase it's so tightly integrated with the OS. You can install/uninstall major parts of it...but evidently not what you needed to. You're pretty much asking why Windows isn't...smart? :t

A registry is a stupid idea in the first place.

[Strawbs]

you can download a full version of IE >here (http://public.planetmirror.com/pub/microsoft/ie/).

If all else fails, use the links in > this thread (http://www.sysopt.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=161595).

[CompGeek01]

I don't think he really has a spyware problem anymore...it's just hes asking a question?

[r8500]

What version of Windows?

[cat5e]

First try this: Internet Explorer Fix. (http://windowsxp.mvps.org/IEFIX.htm)

Otherwise in order to reinstall IE6 you have to “fool” the OS to think that IE is Not installed.

Link to: How to reinstall or repair Internet Explorer and Outlook Express in Windows XP. (http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=318378)

:t

[quantass]

Thats correct i do not have a hijacking issue at the moment just frustrated with these hijacked browsers friends are having and am looking for a way to fully flush out IE. I love the http://public.planetmirror.com/pub/microsoft/ie/ link provided for a full copy of all versions of IE though it seems to me the exploit will continue to roam free despite the reinstall overtop, like a new coat of paint over crappy wallpaper.

Thanks for the education guys!