How to remove IE from W8.1 laptop

John_Smith_2019

I have a Sony Vaio SVF1521P2EB running Windows 8.1 (came installed).
I've just reset to factory settings.
I've managed to uninstall most of the junk that comes as standard bloatware.

I don't like Internet Explorer. It seems full of adverts and junk news and doesn't seem to play Youtube well.
So I've switched to Google Chrome browser.

However, when I right click on the IE 'tile' on my desktop and select 'uninstall' - up pops the Control Panel 'uninstall a program' list. But IE explorer is not listed in the programs to uninstall.

I can locate program files for IE (and other bloatware) in my C drive files. But I'm not sure whether it is a good idea to just delete those files. Will just deleting the files properly uninstall the bloatware? Or could it cause unforeseen problems?

Most of the unwanted bloatware can be removed by just right clicking on the 'tile' and then left clicking on the 'uninstall' or option.
Or by finding it in the Control Panel 'uninstall a program' list.

EveryWhere

If you are going to sell it, why does it matter??
Leave IE alone.

John_Smith_2019

EveryWhere wrote: »

If you are going to sell it, why does it matter??
Leave IE alone.

I want to use the laptop for a bit longer before I sell it.
I haven't properly looked into which SSD desktop PC I want to buy yet.

Is it easy to get one without so much bloatware?

stragglebod

IE isn't bloatware. You can't remove it.

John_Smith_2019

stragglebod wrote: »

IE isn't bloatware. You can't remove it.

It has an 'uninstall' option when I right click the 'tile' on the desktop.

Do I need IE if I'm using Chrome?

unforeseen

And the answer to that is probably. Because of the way that it ties in so intimately to the operating system

Carrot007

stragglebod wrote: »

IE isn't bloatware. You can't remove it.

Whereas much as the second part is true. The first part appears to be the opposite.

John_Smith_2019

unforeseen wrote: »

And the answer to that is probably. Because of the way that it ties in so intimately to the operating system

Does it?
I didn't know that.
I thought it was just Microsoft pushing you to use their browser.

John_Smith_2019

Well I guess just having one unwanted browser program won't make much difference.
Just wanted to check I wasn't missing an obvious way to uninstall it.

Willberry

Internet Explorer is a 'Windows Feature' rather than an installed program. This link will guide you through how to remove it. Link: https://www.howtogeek.com/117166/how-to-uninstall-internet-explorer-10-in-windows-8/

unforeseen

John_Smith_2019 wrote: »

Does it?
I didn't know that.
I thought it was just Microsoft pushing you to use their browser.

My mistake. It looks like MS have properly uncoupled IE from the OS in Win 8.1 and above. It never used to be the case.

Although I will say, in defence of keeping IE, that I have come across Web sites that only work correctly in IE and not Chrome or Firefox. I normally use Chrome bu IE comes in handy for those occasions.