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07 Mar 2009
A feature spotted in beta versions of Windows 7 could indicate that Microsoft will allow users of the new operating system to switch off Internet Explorer.
One of the features in build 7048 of Windows 7 includes a 'Windows Features' dialogue box which allows certain applications and software functions to be switched off. These include Internet Explorer 8 and Windows Media Player.
"I couldn't believe this when I saw it, but it's true," said Windows enthusiast Chris Holmes, who spotted the feature. "Internet Explorer 8 is fully removable in Windows 7 build 7048. I believe this fully squashes the case that the EU has against Microsoft?"
The European Union has fined Microsoft heavily for tying Internet Explorer into the Windows operating system. The company has also had to provide copies of the operating system for sale in certain territories that do not include the browser.
However, while Internet Explorer 8 can be turned off, it is not an easy process, according to one developer.
"There is a catch: for now, this only seems to wipe the actual executable running Internet Explorer 8 (iexplore.exe) but, given that many of the most vocal proponents of choice were just looking for an option to functionally remove IE8, this might've been the only way to do it without killing the rest of Windows," said a posting on the AeroXperience blog, a site for Windows developers.
"In addition, this actually takes two reboots and a configuration step to complete, so there's definitely something going on behind the scenes (likely a remapping of where IE-related functions can be found for other elements in Windows so that Windows doesn't complain about IE's nonexistence)."
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Do you agree?
Wow, Fantastic, Brilliant, Whoop-de-doo!
It's a dying breed, Windows users. Who cares about Windoze anymore. Hope they die, they deserve it.
Posted by: Rex Alfie Lee 26 Mar 2009
Windows 7
I read somewhere 'Microsoft's amazing new operating system.' What can windows 7 do that XP cannot? Is it just a case of better looks? I think if it did my work for me then it would really be an amazing os.
Posted by: gg 17 Mar 2009
Let's stay reasonable
While I don't know the inner workings of Windows, we can say that lots of Windows stuff uses at least the IE rendering engine. Like single-clicking in folder tasks and so on. Ok, whether doing it that way or not was a good choice can be discussed. But "removing" completely IE is impossible unless some major redesign is done. That said, IE is NOT more vulnerable than Firefox; actually, it has LESS vulnerabilities. The biggest flaw we have deals with Windows itself, where the average home user will have an account with admin rights. This problem is the same with Linux, and addressed by some distros -for instance Ubuntu has an equivalent of the infamous Vista UAC. Whatever the vulnerability, if you are not running as an admin, chances that you get bad stuff are 99% lower. Now I tested Windows 7 beta and I can say that UAC is much better than it was in Vista; about as intrusive at is is in Ubuntu -which means, not too intrusive.
Posted by: Sergio 10 Mar 2009
Windows Live Messenger
I wondered why they had finally fixed the problem of Windows Messenger being hard coded to use IE rather than the default browser. In previous versions of Messenger if you clicked on MSN Home Page or E-mail Inbox (assuming Hotmail) it would fire up IE regardless of your default browser. Very frustrating when you set up a PC with Firefox as the default browser and delete the IE icons so the family didn't use IE by accident.
Posted by: Ed 09 Mar 2009
False Information
"The Eu has fined Microsoft heavily for tying Internet Explorer closely into the Windows operating system. The company has also had to provide copies of the operating system for sale that don't include the browser." I don't know where you got this from, but it's false. That was for the tying of Windows Media Player and not IE. It was called Windows XP Edition N.
Posted by: Paul Skinner 08 Mar 2009
MS is finally admiting it is a convicted monopolist
The integration of a browser into an operating system is a totally arbitrary and unnecessary action; integrating IE into Windows was a major part of the MS efforts to destroy netscape. This step forward proves that MS was lying when it claimed, during the US anti-trust trial, that IE could not be removed, that Windows could not operate without IE. So the correct path forward is to totally remove IE at the source, to ship an OS product that finds and uses whatever browser is available or operates without a browser. Not that I care; I swithced to a Mac PowerBook when Vista was announced and won't be going back to any MS products.
Posted by: RCharles 07 Mar 2009
Interesting...
But still, I don't know why they would have ever decided to tie in the IE browser so much with the core operating system itself. It's obvious design flaws, why else would IE be so much more vulnerable to malware than other browsers out there? I would like to see it completely separated from windows, so that it could be completely removed with no problems, and no reboots for that matter.
Posted by: roar 07 Mar 2009
Agree 100%
IE is highly vulnerable to malicious outside attacks by hackers. One small step, one giant step for MS.
Posted by: Unix4Life 07 Mar 2009