You don't necessarily have to reinstall XP to repair IE6..
There are a few options you can try first...
Because IE6 is built into WinXp you can try and repair it with the
System File Checker Tool...
- click start/run.
- type sfc /scannow (note: theres a space between sfc and /scannow)
- click OK
- follow the prompts through the system file checker process
- reboot the computer when System File Checker completes
If that doesn't fix IE6 then try this..
- start / search / select all files and folders.
- click 'Advanced Options' and checkmark 'search hidden files and
folders' (make sure that 'search system folders' and 'search subfolders
is checked too)
- in 'all or part of the file name' type ie.inf
- in the 'look in' drop-down menu choose the drive letter where the
'Windows' folder is (usually 'C').
- click 'search'
- find the ie.inf file (located in Windows\Inf folder' in the search
results
- right click on the 'ie.inf' file and click 'install'
- reboot when theprocess is finsished....
Still not repaired? or get error message saying you can't proceed with
the repair?
---------------------------------
Downloading and Installing IE6 over top of the existing corrupt IE6....
XP won't let you download the full IE6 because you already have it
installed... But you can edit the registry and trick XP into thinking
IE6 isn't installed... then you can just re-intstall IE6 over top of
itself using the Microsoft IE6 Setup file
(Before you edit the registry make a system restore point just to be
safe.. call the restore point something like B4IEReinstall.. and also
if you dont have Firefox, get it now , install it and import your IE6
faves to Firefox bookmarks )
- click /start / run / when the run box opens type regedit ...then hit
'ok'
- when regedit opens navigate to this key... (It's pretty much the same
as navigating in windows explorer)
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Active Setup\Installed
Components\{89820200-ECBD-11cf-8B85-00AA005B4383}
- youll now see 'IsInstalled'
- right click 'IsInstalled' and then left click on 'modify'
- the number value will be 1 ... change it to 0 (zero)
- save the changes and exit regedit
------------------->
Now you can download IE6 and install it... (XP will not stop the
install because it thinks you don't have IE6 installed)
Now, go to this page.. and bookmark it ! I would also print it out if I
was you.
http://www.compu-docs.com/ieadmininstall.htm
Follow the instructions on that page exactly as written and you will be
able to do a full install of IE6 (Over top of the existing IE6)
without having to do a reinstall of WinXP.
It works.. I have done it successfully and so have others.
-------------------------->
Here's some other stuff it wouldn't hurt for you to have a look at
before proceeding..
An excellent page on how to use System Restore tool..
http://www.theeldergeek.com/system_restore.htm
and by the same people a great page on how to backup / restore/ edit
the XP registry using regedit..
http://www.theeldergeek.com/windows_xp_registry.htm
Study both pages if you're unsure how to do anything in regedit or
system restore.
A full reinstall of XP should always be the last resort..
Good Luck....
Davinci