"Internet Explorer 6 has been removed from this computer" message is received after you remove Internet Explorer 5.5 (298629)

The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft Internet Explorer version 6 for Windows 98
Microsoft Internet Explorer version 6 for Windows 98 Second Edition
Microsoft Internet Explorer version 6 for Windows NT 4.0
Microsoft Internet Explorer version 6 for Windows 2000

This article was previously published under Q298629

SYMPTOMS

When you remove Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.5, and then restart your computer, you may receive the following incorrect error message:

Internet Explorer 6 has been removed from this computer. Do you want to clean up your personalized settings for this program?

CAUSE

This behavior may occur when all of the following conditions are true:

You upgrade to Internet Explorer 6.
You remove Internet Explorer 6, and your computer is restored to Internet Explorer version 5.01 or earlier.
You upgrade to Internet Explorer 5.5.
You remove Internet Explorer 5.5.

When you remove Internet Explorer 6 from your computer, the following registry entry that is specific to Internet Explorer 6 is not removed:

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

As a result, you receive the incorrect error message.

WORKAROUND

To work around this problem, click Yes on the error message.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in the Microsoft products that are listed in the "Applies to" section.

MORE INFORMATION

For more information about Microsoft Internet Explorer overview, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

http://www.microsoft.com/windows/ie/evaluation/overview/default.mspx

For more information about how to uninstall Internet Explorer, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

293907 How to uninstall Internet Explorer 6.0

Modification Type:	Minor	Last Reviewed:	1/4/2006
Keywords:	kbnofix kbprb KB298629