How to Reinstall or Repair Internet Explorer and Outlook Express in Windows XP

The information in this article applies to:

• Microsoft Internet Explorer version 6 for Windows XP

• Microsoft Outlook Express, version 6.0 , for Windows XP

IMPORTANT : This article contains information about editing the registry. Before you edit the registry, make sure that you understand how to restore it if a problem occurs. For information about how to do this, see the "Restoring the Registry" Help topic in Regedit.exe or the "Restoring a Registry Key" Help topic in Regedt32.exe.

 

This article describes how to reinstall or repair Internet Explorer 6 and Outlook Express 6 in Windows XP. This may be necessary if you are having problems with Internet Explorer or Outlook Express because of damaged files or missing registration information.

IMPORTANT : After you use the procedures in this article, you must reinstall any updates to Windows XP again. To reinstall Windows XP updates, visit the following Microsoft Windows Update Web site:

http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com/

WARNING : Using Registry Editor incorrectly can cause serious problems that may require that you reinstall your operating system. Microsoft cannot guarantee that problems that result from the incorrect use of Registry Editor can be solved. Use Registry Editor at your own risk.

For information about how to edit the registry, see the "Changing Keys and Values" Help topic in Registry Editor (Regedit.exe) or the "Add and Delete Information in the Registry" and "Edit Registry Data" Help topics in Regedt32.exe. Microsoft recommends that you back up the registry before you edit it. If you are running Windows NT or Windows 2000, Microsoft also recommends that you update your Emergency Repair Disk (ERD).

To resolve this issue, use either of the following methods while you are logged on as an administrator.

To repair or reinstall Internet Explorer and Outlook Express in Windows XP, complete the following procedure while you are logged on as an administrator:

1. Use the System File Checker tool to scan all of the protected files on your computer:
   
    
   1. Click Start , and then click Run .
      
       
   2. In the Open box, type sfc /scannow , and then click OK . Note that you may be prompted to insert the Windows XP installation CD-ROM.
      
       
2. Test to determine if the issue is resolved. If the issue is resolved, skip the remaining steps. If the issue is not resolved, continue to the next step.
   
    
3. Complete an in-place upgrade of Windows XP, a repair of Windows XP, or reinstall Windows XP.
   
   For additional information about how to complete an in-place upgrade or repair of Windows XP, click the article number below to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

   Q315341 How to Perform an In-Place Upgrade (Reinstallation) of Windows XP

1. While you are logged on as an administrator, click Start , and then click Run .
   
    
2. In the Open box, type regedit , and then click OK .
   
    
3. Browse to the appropriate registry subkey, right-click the IsInstalled (REG_DWORD) value, and then click Modify . To reinstall only the Internet Explorer 6 browser component on Windows XP, use the following registry key:
   
    

   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Active Setup\Installed Components\{89820200-ECBD-11cf-8B85-00AA005B4383}

   To reinstall only Outlook Express 6 on Windows XP, use the following registry key:

   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Active Setup\Installed Components\{44BBA840-CC51-11CF-AAFA-00AA00B6015C}

4. Change the value data from 1 to 0, and then click OK .
   
    
5. Quit Registry Editor, and then download and install Internet Explorer 6. For information about how o download and install Internet Explorer 6, visit the following Microsoft Web site:
   
    

   http://www.microsoft.com/windows/ie/default.asp

By default, Internet Explorer 6 is preinstalled in all versions of Windows XP and cannot be uninstalled. To provide computer manufacturers greater flexibility in configuring desktop versions of Windows XP, Microsoft has made it possible for OEMs, administrators, and users to remove user access to Internet Explorer while leaving the Internet Explorer code intact and fully functional to ensure the functionality of programs and operating system functions that rely on it. For example, Windows XP supports an "IEAccess=off" switch in the Unattend.txt file, and Internet Explorer has been added to the Add/Remove Windows Components section of the Add/Remove Programs tool in Control Panel. This does not reinstall Internet Explorer.