Is IE8 no longer supported by Win7?

whs said:

...the way I understood, the IE9 came with the intallation - not as an update...

It depends on how one defines "installation". If it's hardcoded into Windows 7 SP1 that's one thing. But if it came with the OP's "Installation" from the company that manufactured the PC, that's another. When Windows 7 first came out a friend of mine was telling me about the new "Dock". Since I never saw that I had to look it up to discover it's really the "Dell Dock", added by Dell, which had no connection to Windows or Microsoft except as an added application.

As far as SP1 is concerned, I added that to my original Windows 7 and it did not upgrade my version of IE. In my case IE9 only appeared as an optional update on Windows Update, and can be easily hidden. But it's easy to install it thinking it's required since Microsoft may call it "important".

If IE9 was installed at the factory by Toshiba, and if they removed the uninstall option, I don't think there's any way to uninstall IE9 without doing a reinstall of the operating system (probably using a pre-SP1 full install or upgrade disk so IE8 will be the default browser.)

In the alternative I think the best you can do is turn IE9 off. The core components will remain on your computer so other applications that depend on IE will still function, but IE9 will not be your active browser. So make sure you have another browser (Firefox, Chrome, Opera, etc) available.

Windows Features - Turn On or Off

stve said:

Why on earth would Toshiba bother to remove the uninstall option , it's probably not even possible.
With Windows 7 to remove IE9 you remove the IE9 update & IE8 is automatically restored.

IE9 was originally offered as an "update" and updates can usually be uninstalled. Here's a Seven Forums tutorial and the official Microsoft article.

Windows Update - Uninstall an Update

How do I install or uninstall Internet Explorer 9?

Why would Toshiba bother to remove an uninstaller? For the same reason they (along with most manufacturers) install bloatware and otherwise customize a machine. It's their product and they can do whatever they please, even to the point of deciding what's best for the eventual buyer. Like not being able to remove IE9.

If the uninstaller is removed, the update usually cannot be removed without some serious hacking of the system. To that end, I found these old Microsoft forum threads about uninstalling IE9 if it's not listed under installed updates. Disclaimer: use at your own risk.

uninstall ie9 - Internet Explorer 9 is not listed in updates - Microsoft Answers

Methods to Uninstall / Remove IE9 - Microsoft Answers

stve said:

You do not download IE8 its part of Win 7, you have to open Windows update & uninstall IE9 .
You will then have IE8 back.

This worked, thanks to all!

The first time I uninstalled IE9 the LT hung up on the "Preparing to configure Windows, do not shut off the computer" screen. After 15 minutes I shut it off with the power button, turned it back on and it went right back to the same screen. After 10 minutes I shut if off again and booted into safe mode. Safe mode said windows update failed and would set the LT back to the last settings. After two more reboots it was back to normal with IE9. Went ahead and tried it again and this time it uninstalled IE9 and updated everything without a hitch.

I now have IE8.

whs said:

Kari, the way I understood, the IE9 came with the intallation - not as an update. That way it would be part of the system and may be difficult to remove. But maybe I am wrong.

IE9 was installed on the PC, but was listed under updates. It probably has to do with Toshiba's Win7 install routine.