Cannot remove IE8

mjf said:

Is this thread suggesting that Windows can live without IE even if you don't use it as your browser. I thought Windows used it for update purposes.

I believe that unchecking the IE8 box in Programs and Features only prevents it from being used as a browser. It shoud not prevent "Windows Update" from working.

Removing IE8 only removes an interface to the underlying networking services, and IMO, closes one of the biggest security holes in windows. Even if you have no browsers on your computer at all, windows 7 is still able to connect to microsoft on every login to check for, download and install updates and, of course, to make sure your windows license is still valid.

roncerr said:

If you restored back as far as you could and have "multiple errors" you may have to do a full repair or reinstall since you may have a virus. Since your system sounds fairly new it may not be a hard drive problem but if the hard drive is getting flakey you could try a $90 program called "Spinrite" from www.grc.com .

I think it's very possible that I have multiple errors on my system, yet I just did a reinstall less than a month ago...so I really don't want to do another. I got this laptop a year ago, so it's definitely not a hard drive problem, but I'll run the program anyway. I just finished another sfc /scannow...it was able to detect a problem and successfully repair it...I'll try running the scan until it comes up with no errors, and then I'll try removing IE8 again. Thanks everyone for the help, I really appreciate it!

Yeah I know I can't remove it...I meant disable, sorry for the misunderstanding. Anyway...just finished the scan, and unfortunately it didn't come up with any errors. So apparently this isn't being caused by a corrupt system file...