I've been told that my windows based pc requires internet explorer to access the internet. I use a local baswed ISP and have netscape installed for my browser. Is this true?
Ok hotrodwi i am no pc expert but i know enough. I dont see any reason why you would have to use internet explorer to surf the web. I mean can u get on the interent through a different browser or can u not even get on the internet?
Internet Explorer is integrated with WIndows, so you are not going to be able to uninstall it without problems. You do not need to use that browser to access teh internet, however. THere are quite a few choices you have for internet browsers, Firefox and Opera are the two primary contenders (Firefox is a derivative of Netscape).
Thanks for the info...I've been using Netscape to surf, but seems to be ever so slow when Internet Explorer(IE) is the rendering engine... they seems to "fight" over which rendering engine is to be used...I get frustrated and try to uninstall Internet Explorer(IE). It shows there is no file size for IE but the computer continues to show the IE icon when opening up netscape browser. I've tried every windows program I can find to eliminate IE but IE seems to still exist...my son insists that it is impossible to surf the internet w/o IE. The situation is compounded since USBANK BillPay won't work with netscape browser...I then have to switch back to IE rendering to use the billpay.
Heres another option for you. If you have (im assuming you can use it to) the Firefox browser you can get a plugin for it called something like IEView. So in Firefox when you go to your banksite to do your bills you'll use this plugin to open the page in IE while using Firefox. Hope this helps - PeaInAPod
Ok people, This is HotRodWI's son. My Dad has been having hella problems with his computer. I dont know why. Personally, I think its his netscape browser thats the problem. Now some of you misunderstood what I am trying to tell my Dad. Im not saying that you HAVE to use Internet Explorer to surf the web. I am saying that without it on your computer, you wont be able to. Unless you have some other type of program like internet explorer. (wich i have no idea where you would find one) And im not saying that if you delete I.E. that you can go use another browser or something like MSN explorer. I told him that if he wanted to delete Internet Explorer so bad here is how to do it and showed him how. But he didnt want to end all the processes besides explorer.exe. SO, back to the main question. If you delete internet explorer COMPLETELY off you computer YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO GET ON THE INTERNET!!!!!!! I have done it before. I didn't have the disc to re-instal it and ended up with a non-internet computer. I had called some support number or something and thats what the guy told me. Without it I cant get on the net. So, Dad, if you want to do that. Ill show you how to COMPLETELY delete it off your computer if you feel ok with doing so. Otherwise, people here may suggest some things. My opinion is that you download MSN explorer and see how that works for you. (you can still go into netscape through msn and check your mail there and make netscape your homepage.) And if MSN acts up like your netscape browser does (wich im 80 percent sure that it wont) then I would recomend you re-format your computer. Since you didn't get it too long ago, dont have much on your comp, and could save the programs you want and the few files you need. You may not want to do that but if you rather get fed up with what you have now for however long you deal with it, eventually you will decide to re-format your comp. any other suggestions people? Im out the hizzle.
Okay, I think we need to step back a moment (breathe) and readdress the situation. hotrodwi, what, exactly, is your problem? You are saying that browsing is terribly slow. What does this have to do with IE, specifically, and/or what brought you to the conclusion that IE was causing the issue? What other problems are there that we should know about? What OS are you using, what kind of internet connection, and what are your system specs (for good measure)?
My Dad will answer after me, but hes sleeping and might as well post something in the meantime so that we can get things going. His exact problem (wich he will word himself but I will give my 2cents on it) is that when he uses Netscape Browser. It is extremely slow loading webpages, and most of the time he wont even be able to load a webpage. I haven't sat down and tried to fix it because he probably wouldnt let me. He will have to clarify this but when he cant load the webpages it will say somethin like "connection refused by server". Then he will restart his computer and trys again. His OS is Windows XP Professional. From what ive heard he has done System Restore quite a few times. What leads him to believe IE is causing the problem? There is a real small icon on the bottom left of Netscape Browser that has the IE symbol and he says whenever that appears hes not able to load a page. I will see if we can get a screen shot to show you guys. Ive sat at my computer 24/7 for about 2 and a half years. I know ALOT about computers. I could fix the problem in a heartbeat. Its obviously not Internet Explorer. A small icon does not mean that Internet Explorer is causing the problem. I asked him to download MSN EXPLORER but he didnt want to cause he said it was slower then hell.... It may just be that the netscape browser had a bug in it and may need to re-download it. I have had to do that with AOL instant messenger about 5 times because every time someone messeged me it would kick me off. So.... since my help isnt wanted, someone else give your opinion.
forgot to add.... without trying another browser or explorer, how can we assume that Internet Explorer is the problem? Why not assume netscape is the problem? He deleted most of the IE files off of his computer and I havent checked myself but im not able to start a new task of IEXPLORER.EXE in task manager.
It sounds like too much troubleshooting has been done and everything is mucked up. HotRodWI-- My suggestion is to back all important data up, format and reinstall XP Pro. Don't forget to update with Service Pack 2. Netscape browser, unless you are using it as part of Mozilla Suite, is quite dated and part of the problem might just be lack of support for it on some web sites. I'm guessing that it came on an installation/setup disk from your ISP. There are other ways to set up your internet connection without resorting to that stoopid disk. A manual setup might alleviate some of your heartache. Best way would be to record all the settings for your modem so you can recreate them when you finish reinstall. NoWayHose can likely assist you in this. Again, my recommendation is to use Firefox 1.5 or Opera 8.51 for web browsing. If you prefer not to let your son help you, that's your prerogative. Just keep in mind that the internet isn't colluding with him just to prove you wrong or him right. You cannot remove IE and expect your computer to operate correctly as it is an integral part of Windows XP. NoWayHose-- Have patience with your dad. If he wants to do this himself, then let him. I thank you for your assistance in this thread up to now, but I think the rest should be up to your father, since it is his problem. Regards,
He didn't use netscape from a disk. He downloaded it from www.download.com I think. And its Netscape Browser. NOT Netscape Explorer. I think he should format his computer too. He just got it recently and doesnt have much stuff on it to save. I know its his problem. If he doesnt want me to help I dont care. Im just saying that its frustrating when he claims this and that when I can fix it in less then 15 minutes. He doesn't want to do the things I suggest. Thats fine. And I tryed explaining that he needed internet explorer to be able to connect, BUT, he chose not to believe so and posted on this board. And finally, someone comes out and agrees with me that he needs internet explorer on his computer. "You cannot remove IE and expect your computer to operate correctly as it is an integral part of Windows XP." Thats what this has been all about... I LOVE YOU GUYS
For the record, I said so in the first post. I understand your frustration, but if we are going to help your dad, then you must step away... let him continue posting in this thread.
one time, a psychiatrist told me the same thing. i didnt listen then, but ill take your word for it. nice talking to you guys.
1) No - you cannot uninstall internet explorer separately as it is integrated into windows. 2) No - you don't need to have internet explorer on your computer in order to surf the internet. 3) Yes, using Netscape will give you slower results. Web pages used to be built to internet explorer and netscape standards. Now they're not. They're all built to at least internet explorer standards and some have netscape standards. Netscape has issues. I'd suggest not using it. 4) You can run firefox (by mozilla) which is free, to surf the internet. 5) MSN explorer is just a variation of internet explorer (made by the same company...Microsoft...heard of it?) 6) You do not need to reformat in order to get internet explorer back onto your computer. If you want it to re-install, go here: http://www.microsoft.com/windows/ie/downloads/default.mspx 7) Seeing as there have been a few 'system restores' done, I too would suggest a clean install of windows. Netscape is indeed dated and is not supported by all websites. Just like firefox cannot load some webpages. (Bloody microsoft has prevented them) So I would not use netscape. That it? Think so. What a wild post.
Because there is no reason why you should care if me or my dad posts. We live in the same house. I know his problem with his computer. Hes not neccasarily a computer buff. I know alot about computers. I can tell you more of exactly what is happening. He may know the general problem with his computer but I can give my 2 cents on it because Ive seen the problem myself also. So it makes you look like a computer specialist/therapist when you tell me I need to step aside. thanks
Hey nowayhose, Not trying to look like computer specialists/therapists, just trying to help. We're all learning here too. It's good for someone to have a good amount of scepticism in life as it prevents you from getting burned all the time. But from what you can see from the posts on this thread there are a few people backing up your ideas. So now you have second opinions, which helps matters. Trust me, it bugs me to no end when my wife doesn't believe me on a subject matter that I know I know about. And then she needs a second opinion...curls my fur it does. But what can you do right? Least I didn't marry a ditz who just looks at me with cute eyes and says 'yes dear' all the time. I'd go nuts! Good luck with it!
Unfortunately, I wasn't talking about your comment, nowayhose. I know exactly what you werre saying. This thread is going downhill fast. I'm outta here before I cause any trouble.
