How Do I Get Internet Explorer Back on My Computer After I Accidentally Erased It?

You can reinstall Internet Explorer if your current copy is not working.

Internet Explorer is a Web browser created by Microsoft for the Windows operating system. It remains a standard for Web applications, especially for in-house software that manages data and processes in major corporations. Because many sites only work correctly when viewed with Internet Explorer, it is always a good idea to have a working copy. You can reinstall Internet Explorer for free at any time if you have accidentally erased or damaged it.

Instructions

1. Log in to the computer as Administrator.

2. Launch any Web browser such as Firefox or Google Chrome (if your computer has no working web browser, follow the instructions in the "Tips" section below).

3. Navigate with the browser to the "Internet Explorer 8:Home page" website. Scroll down the list to find the language you want Internet Explorer to use for help and menus. Click on the "Select your version" pull-down menu for that list entry, then select the version of Windows you are running (if you do not know which version of Windows you are running, click on the "Is my PC running the 32-bit or 64-bit version of Windows?" link and follow the instructions). Click "Download," then click "Save," then wait until the download completes.

4. Reinstall Internet Explorer by double-clicking on the downloaded installer file. Follow the prompts. The installer will create a working version of Internet Explorer on your Windows computer. At that time, Internet Explorer will be ready to use.

Tips & Warnings

• If your computer has no working web browser, insert the Windows installation CD or DVD into the optical drive. Click "Start," then type "run" into the search box, then press "Enter." Click on "Run," then type "cmd" and press "Enter." Click on the newly-opened Command box, then type

• rundll32.exe InstallHinfSection,setupapi DefaultInstall 132 "%windir%\Inf\ie.inf"

• Press "Enter." Windows will begin installing the version of Internet Explorer originally distributed with the operating system.

References

• Microsoft: How to reinstall or repair Internet Explorer in Windows 7, Windows Vista, and Windows XP

Resources

• Microsoft: Download Internet Explorer 8