Why Does Internet Explorer Stop Working After a Windows XP Repair Installation?

If you perform a repair installation of Windows XP and have a later version of Internet Explorer installed, you may find that Internet Explorer no longer functions properly after the repair is completed. This is because the repair installation does not restore the earlier version of the Internet Explorer files in the Program Files\Internet Explorer folder, leaving the newer, incompatible files in place.

Uninstall the Later Version of Internet Explorer

To resolve this issue, you must first uninstall the later version of Internet Explorer from the computer before performing the Windows XP repair installation. This can be done by following these steps:

– Click **Start**, click **Run**, type `appwiz.cpl` in the **Open** box, and then click **OK**.
– In the **Currently installed programs** list, click **Windows Internet Explorer 7**, or click **Windows Internet Explorer 8**, and then click **Remove**.
– If Internet Explorer is not listed in the **Currently installed programs** list, you can use the Recovery Console to uninstall it.

After uninstalling the later version of Internet Explorer, you can then proceed with the repair installation of Windows XP. Once the repair is complete, you can reinstall the later version of Internet Explorer.

Importance of Uninstalling Before Repair

It is crucial to uninstall the later version of Internet Explorer before performing the Windows XP repair installation. If you do not, Internet Explorer will not function correctly after the repair is finished. The repair installation does not restore the earlier version of the Internet Explorer files, leaving the newer, incompatible files in place and causing the browser to malfunction.