Re: New Compaq with WIN95

[Linux Idiot <esoteric@atlnet.com>]

Erick Andrews wrote:
> 
> On Thu, 16 Apr 1998 12:02:05 -0400 (EDT), Linux Idiot wrote:
> 
> >Thought I'd share this with the list.  A friend of mine just bought a
> >new Compaq Presario and ask me to help him set it up.  Well, once it
> >boots, you see the IE icon, the IE channels menu bar, and of course it's
> >using IE as the OS browser rather than the normal windows explorer.  I
> >suggested he remove IE and use the standard windows explorer.  I told
> >him I'd download Netscape for him.
> >
> >I noticed that IE is really slow compared to the windows explorer.  And
> >before we had the chance to change from IE to the Win. explorer, the
> >bloody thing locked up, when I tried to move up the directory tree in
> >IE. That was enough for my friend, we removed IE then and there.
> >Curious thing though, when you remove IE, it asks you if you want to
> >completely remove it or quit using it as the Win explorer.  I selected
> >the second option, then went back and removed IE.
> >
> >I will say this, for this guy, who is a perfect novice, there's no way
> >in the world he could have removed IE without my direction, or doing
> >some substantial research.  It's just not that easy.  While I was there,
> >I went ahead and removed MSN as well. :)
> >
> >--
> >Until later: Geoffrey          esoteric@atlnet.com
> >
> >NT is secure.... as long as you don't remove the shrink wrap.
> >Want to speed up your NT box real cheap?  Replace NT with Linux...
> >
> So is your recipe required?  In other words, do you have to quit using
> it as the Win explorer FIRST, then completely remove it?  Is this
> some "uninstall icon" procedure?  Can't you just remove the whole thing
> right from the get-go?   And did you have to roll up your sleeves and
> delete .exe's and .dll's and hack up the registry?

I don't know if this 'recipe' is required.  My concern was that when it
provide that option, I had the 'my computer' window open, which means it
was open in IE.  I was afraid that if I just blew it away all together,
something might break, so I did it in two steps.

The way it works is, I went into 'my computer'->control
panel->remove/add software

>From there, I selected to remove MS Internet Explorer.  At this point a
window pops up asking with radio buttons asking me if I want to (and I
paraphrase):

If I want to quit using IE as the windows explorer
If I want to remove IE all together (and it's associated programs)
A third option, that I don't recall at this time.

I selected the first option.  When I did, it began to remove stuff, I
got a dialog box saying that it could not finish, because there was
something open, I assume the control panel window.  I clicked OK, it
then reboot.  When it came back up, it was no longer using IE as the
windows explorer.  Here's the good part though, this machine came with
an icon for internet mail.  When I selected it, what comes up? IE
internet mail.

After I removed MSN, I attempted to delete the icon from the desktop. 
The way you do this is to select properties, and under there is a delete
option.  Well, when I tried to do this, it said this item had no
properties, obviously because I removed it.  Question is, why didn't the
removal remove the icon as well.

After removing IE from the machine, there was still a listing of it in
the start menu.  I had to explicitly remove it separately.

I did not have to remove any files (*.dll, *.exe) by hand, and I never
touched the registry.  But, the COMPLETE removal of IE from Windows 95
is not a simple task, nor is it a complete task when done via the
remove/add icon.  Same with MSN.  I had to manually remove the IE entry
in the start up menu.  Although this is not terribly difficult, it's not
as easy as billy makes it out to be.  I wish the would have made Bill
remove IE from a machine after he said it was so easy.  I wonder if he
could??? :)

Oh yes.  The MSN icon on the desktop.  I never could get it to go away. 
We reboot for another reason and guess what, it was gone.  Don't you
love it, windows at it's best.

> 
> I ask because I want to understand these complexities for future calls to
> duty.  (I'm only a simple OS/2 and Linux hacker where these "features"
> do not exist.)

I don't proclaim to be a windows guru either, but I've messed with it
enough to appear to be to the apparent novice.  I've hacked at the
registry in the past, and loaded particularily unusual variations of
Win95 as well as win311. I spend most of my time in a real operating
system (Linux) as well. :)

> 
> Erick

-- 
Until later: Geoffrey		esoteric@atlnet.com

NT is secure.... as long as you don't remove the shrink wrap.
Want to speed up your NT box real cheap?  Replace NT with Linux...