9

How do I install Internet Explorer 6 as my default browser and remove Internet Explorer 8?

I need this because of the script in my course syllabus.

Peter Mortensen
  • 12,090
  • 23
  • 70
  • 90
sagarkothari
  • 4,925
  • 25
  • 72
  • 92
  • I need this too because my intranet apps don't work on IE8, I need to move back to IE6. Compatibility mode doesn't cut it either. – alok Aug 03 '09 at 08:19
  • @alok, so what happened to IE7 then? – Arjan Aug 03 '09 at 09:37
  • 2
    What exactly does your script need to do that requires IE6? I ask because there may be alternatives and I'd hate for you to get misleading answers because we misunderstood what you needed to do... – AnonJr Aug 03 '09 at 10:45
  • @Arjan IE8 compatibility mode is IE7. – Richard Gadsden Aug 03 '09 at 12:13

9 Answers9

25

Don't.

Seriously.

To clarify: It's okay to install IE6 for testing purposes or the like. But that's probably best done in the sandbox of a VM. Do not make IE 6 the default browser on your machine. Nothing good can come out of that.

balpha
  • 1,222
  • 3
  • 18
  • 27
16

IETester will do what you want ...

alt text

However I would have a talk with your lecturer.

I would have serious concerns with any course syllabus that requires downgrading back to a browser that was released in 2002, because what they are teaching would no longer be relevant.

The syllabus should be updated to use a current version that confirms with ECMA standards.

Gaff
  • 18,569
  • 15
  • 57
  • 68
Bruce McLeod
  • 5,708
  • 2
  • 25
  • 42
  • 3
    ...and, as such, should not only be independent on the version of Internet Explorer, but be independent on the browser and OS to start with. – Arjan Aug 03 '09 at 09:36
13

If you are working under Windows 7 or Vista then there is no possible way to do this.

If you have Windows XP you should be able to uninstall IE 7+ via the "Add / Remove Software"-panel.

If you want to emulate IE6 you can do so by setting the Developer Tools in IE8 (you can access these tools by pressing F12 or navigating to Tools > Developer Tools) to "Quirks Mode".

I recommend, that if reeeally need to use the real IE6 (for testing your websites or something), download the Virtual PC HD image of Windows XP SP3 with IE6 installed: http://www.microsoft.com/Downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=21eabb90-958f-4b64-b5f1-73d0a413c8ef&displaylang=en and use it in a virtual machine.

lx.
  • 231
  • 2
  • 3
8

You can install a virtual machine (for example, VirtualBox) with either a stock Windows XP (which comes with Internet Explorer 6) or Linux (and install IEs4linux).

Peter Mortensen
  • 12,090
  • 23
  • 70
  • 90
ysth
  • 236
  • 2
  • 4
5

You can get all versions of Internet Explorer at Final Builds Site - IE Collection and have them installed at the same time, then choose your default or try Browser Compatibility Check for Internet Explorer Versions from 5.5 to 10.

Peter Mortensen
  • 12,090
  • 23
  • 70
  • 90
Jakob Cosoroaba
  • 1,711
  • 4
  • 20
  • 26
  • I would definitely recommend IETester as the way to go. It's free, easy to install, and doesn't mess with your system. Ideal. – Charles Roper Aug 03 '09 at 09:02
5

Uninstalling IE8 on Windows XP

  • Click the ‘Start’ Button –> ‘Control Panel’ –> ‘Add or Remove Programs’.
  • Find and select Windows Internet Explorer 8 from the list of software, click on the ‘remove’ button.
  • Restart Windows.

Removing IE8 on Windows Vista

  • Click the ‘Start’ Button –> ‘Control Panel’ –> ‘Programs’ (Programs and Features)
  • Select View installed updates
  • Find and select Windows Internet Explorer 8 from the list of available updates, click uninstall.
  • Restart Windows.

alt text

How to Reinstall Internet Explorer 6 or 7?

  • After you restart your computer, open Internet Explorer. The icon is still on your desktop.
  • In Internet Explorer, go to ‘Help’ –> ‘About Internet Explorer’
  • If Internet Explorer 6 or 7 appears in the About Internet Explorer dialog box, then you’ve successfully uninstalled IE8.

Source:

http://www.geckoandfly.com/2009/06/30/uninstall-windows-ie8-and-reinstall-internet-explorer-6-or-7/

Gaff
  • 18,569
  • 15
  • 57
  • 68
joe
  • 12,279
  • 12
  • 67
  • 104
4

If you're on XP, you can install Multiple IE

hasen
  • 5,168
  • 11
  • 43
  • 51
2

You should be able to go to the control panel - > Add Remove Programs

Find IE8 in the list and uninstall. This should roll you back to version 7. Go back to add/remove programs and uninstall IE one more time. This will roll you back to version 6.0 That is all there is to it!

Happy Hunting

Axxmasterr
  • 7,858
  • 7
  • 41
  • 60
0

You can do this with ThinApp (and possibly few other similar app virtualization softwares).

http://kb.vmware.com/selfservice/microsites/search.do?language=en_US&cmd=displayKC&externalId=1026565

http://blogs.vmware.com/thinapp/2010/06/internet-explorer-6on-windows-7.html

Anonymous Coward
  • 1
  • 1
  • Link-only answers tend to become invalid when the pages they point to disappear. Can you expand your answer? – Heptite Apr 02 '14 at 06:22