bit-tech.net

Windows 7 to make IE optional

Published on 9th March 2009 by Gareth Halfacree

The dialogue - which is provided as a post-install option - will allow users the choice to disable in-built functionality in favour of third-party apps.

We already know that Windows 7 brings usability and performance benefits to the table when compared to its predecessor – the much-derided Windows Vista – but Microsoft has revealed that another new feature will be making its début with the OS: better application customisation.

According to the guys over at DownloadSquad, the final retail release of Windows 7 will feature the ability to completely disable a range of default components, including – and fans of alternative browsers will rejoice here – Internet Explorer 8.

It's not just the default browser that can be killed off either; the company has revealed that features including Windows Media Player, Windows DVD Maker, Windows Search, Windows Media Center, the in-built handwriting recognition system, Fax and Scan, and the Windows Gadgets platform can all be disabled at the touch of a button in favour of a third-party application.

The functionality goes further than the Set Program Access and Defaults settings that were introduced in Windows XP, in that once a program has been deselected from the list it is completely disabled – not merely bumped down the preference list in favour of an alternative.

Fans of a stripped down OS install will be disappointed, however: Microsoft has chosen to implement this functionality as a post-install option, rather than a dialogue which pops up during the installation process. While this means that you can disable functionality you don't want to use, you'll still have to install it in the first place. Discussing this decision on the company's blog, engineer Jack stated that “the vast majority of feedback we have received was to streamline setup and to reduce the amount of potential complexity in getting a PC running.”

Do you see the move as a positive step from the convicted monopolist, or should the option have been added to prevent any of the excess baggage being installed in the first place – and to heck with the “potential complexity”? Share your thoughts over in the forums.

26 Comments

Discuss in the forums Reply

Bauul 9th March 2009, 11:33

I can understand their mentallity. If they allowed this at startup, I can imagine people thinking "I use Firefox, I don't need IE", disabling it before Windows was installed, and then finding they have no way to download FF. Besides, I doubt many people will object at having the option later in the process, just having it at all is a huge step forwards.

Atomic 9th March 2009, 11:36

I'd bet there will be a third party app released to remove the files of the disabled packages.

steveo_mcg 9th March 2009, 11:38

Good news i'd say, even if it is post install.

p3n 9th March 2009, 11:43

IE is still going to be part of explorer though, esp since removing it entirely would break winblows update... A move in the right direction though, now they just need to remove the stupid SKU's

Jack_Pepsi 9th March 2009, 12:09

I'm looking forward to the RC, I've been impressed by 7 so far.

julianmartin 9th March 2009, 12:12

About bloody time...

proxess 9th March 2009, 12:14

Finally a bunch of steps in the right direction, I'll definitely be replacing my XP with this.

Jamie 9th March 2009, 12:17

If it's post install then you still have to install Internet Explorer so how does this differ from the option to remove Internet Explorer on Windows XP in Add Remove Programs -> Windows Components?

ChaosDefinesOrder 9th March 2009, 12:23

the problem with IE, though, is that there's a number of Microsoft services that REQUIRE IE to work properly - Microsoft Exchange I'm looking at YOU!

We use Exchange Outlook webmail access at work for machines not set up to use Outlook properly, and it only works with Internet Explorer, if you use anything else it strips it down to the "light" version which is almost useless

Until things like this are rectified then Internet Explorer is actually a required parallel install...

perplekks45 9th March 2009, 13:18

Which would explain why it's an post-install dialogue...

I saw and used the dialogue in 7 already and I think it's great. :)

OWNED66 9th March 2009, 14:00

finally ..

quack 9th March 2009, 14:03

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jamie
If it's post install then you still have to install Internet Explorer so how does this differ from the option to remove Internet Explorer on Windows XP in Add Remove Programs -> Windows Components?

The XP option just deletes the shortcuts, leaving iexplore.exe intact. In Windows 7 it actually deletes iexplore.exe.

Quote:

Originally Posted by p3n
IE is still going to be part of explorer though, esp since removing it entirely would break winblows update... A move in the right direction though, now they just need to remove the stupid SKU's

The API components will remain so Windows Update and Explorer will continue to work, but iexplore.exe will be deleted.

Any files removed will be kept in a "staging area" so they can be easily re-enabled without having to hunt down the DVD.

n3mo 9th March 2009, 15:20

Good direction, but 7lite will be necessary as with every windows to remove the bloat. But, as it was said in many places over the time - future belongs to more open, modular systems. Good thing that Microsoft is trying to do something actually useful after all the time, but we'll see if it it works out.

perplekks45 9th March 2009, 16:04

I'm still waiting for news on that modular OS Microsoft are developing. Read about that roughly 6-9 months ago, sounded amazingly interesting.

Er-El 9th March 2009, 16:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by perplekks45
I'm still waiting for news on that modular OS Microsoft are developing. Read about that roughly 6-9 months ago, sounded amazingly interesting.

Um, that's Vista/7. Vista is a componentised OS if that's what you mean, and 7 extends on that by only keeping specific components of the OS running which are in use, hence less memory is used(a very lehman's explanation).

perplekks45 9th March 2009, 19:28

No, that's not what I meant. I read an article about a completely modular OS by MS. I can't remember the name, couldn't if you'd put a gun to my head, sorry. :)

It was based around a kernel, that just ran the absolute minimum configuration and everything else could be installed as a module... pretty similar to some *NIX distributions.
Will try to find a link to that... will take a while though.

//edit: I read it would probably be more of a proof of concept than ever making it to retail. Shame.

Horizon 9th March 2009, 20:03

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bauul
I can understand their mentallity. If they allowed this at startup, I can imagine people thinking "I use Firefox, I don't need IE", disabling it before Windows was installed, and then finding they have no way to download FF. Besides, I doubt many people will object at having the option later in the process, just having it at all is a huge step forwards.

Their problem, smart people have a survival kit in the form of a USB drive, CD, DVD, or Floppy, loaded with the basics anti-virus, firewall, BROWSER, and a few other choice programs.

serial_ 9th March 2009, 20:07

I think you mean "lay man's."

Redbeaver 9th March 2009, 20:24

one small step for Micro$oft.... one big step...........

perplekks45 9th March 2009, 21:23

For those who are interested, I talked about Singularity and Midori.

Wiki links:

Singularity
Midori

Not to forget MinWin, a trimmed-down kernel.

Zut 9th March 2009, 21:38

Hooray for the EU!

Matticus 9th March 2009, 23:03

If the files needed to reinstall features are going to be kept on the hard drive so you don't have to get the disk or go on the net to get them again, then what really is the point?

It is surely about as functional as removing the shortcuts. The only people who are going to bother with this are the people who would use firefox. opera etc and just ignore IE so it adds no real benefit, not in my eyes anyway.

I for one never bother removing IE, because I use it to test out web design across browsers.

Sebbo 10th March 2009, 00:42

alas, today is a victory for the whiners. that said, this really doesn't change anything. the general population who don't care which browser they use will just end up using IE, and those that do care (the whiners fit in this category) will just install their preferred browser.

the more things change, the more they stay the same.

dyzophoria 10th March 2009, 04:01

Ms is just enabled that option to shut up the EU :D, I wonder what the next Eu debacle would be,lol

@Sebbo

I agree with you on that that victory for the whiners thing,lol

notatoad 10th March 2009, 04:43

meh. if i don't use it, what's the difference if it's there or not? it's not like anybody needs the couple of megs that it's occupying on their hard drives.

steveo_mcg 10th March 2009, 09:29

Equally if you don't use it whats the point in having a security hole sitting on your drive.

Rule 1 in security have as little on the machine as possible, less programs/services less things to remember to keep up to date.