DON'T MAKE US INSTALL INTERNET EXPLORER 5.5! -----------------------------------------------------------------

(source: Win Insider 1-11-2001)

You know, I thought I was done covering IE 5.5, but every day that goes by I hear about a new problem that can wreak havoc on your PC with this minor update to IE 5.0. Folks, do not install IE 5.5. If you have done so, I suggest you uninstall it. I have written several times about how to do that. Check the back issues of Insider for the details:

http://www.winmag.com/columns/insider/backissu.htm

Here are just a couple instances of trouble reported to me recently:

"I use Windows 98 Second Edition on a Compaq Presario. I recently downloaded IE 5.5 and had major problems with graphics displaying in many other programs installed on my system. For example, the thumbnails in Home Publishing 2000 all began showing up as red Xs. The help files of many of my installed programs were also strangely affected. It's very aggravating." --Thomas Sicora

"How do I stop Internet Explorer 5.5 from automatically launching at Windows boot? Since installing the newer browser, every time I boot my PC IE loads automatically with a "Cannot Find Server" error message. When I close it and double click the Internet Explorer icon on my desktop, I'm able to access the Internet through my DSL connection just fine. But this is a big nuisance. As hard as I've looked, I can't find the setting that controls this." --Aaron Welkowsky

One of the most common problems I hear about following installation of IE 5.5 is that suddenly automatic Internet dial- up stops working, sort of the opposite of what Aaron reports. I have cataloged literally scores of problems reported by readers of Windows Insider and Broadband Report. Many of the problems are just like these, somewhat minor, but so frustrating as to be intolerable. For more on some of the problems readers have reported, see this back issue of Insider: