You may have noticed that Microsoft has included a new version of Internet Explorer (Internet Explorer 8 ) in one of its recent updates. Here's what Microsoft as to say about some of the new features of IE8.

The question is, should you install it? Unless you are eagerly looking forward to the new features of this update, I would recommend that you not install it just yet. As it is still fairly new, it may contain some bugs.

Some people are noticing that it's causing their computer to slow down or freeze. Some things you can do to help speed it up is to remove some of the features that may be causing it to slow down your computer, such as, InPrivate Filtering and SmartScreen Filtering.


By default, InPrivate Filtering analyzes the websites you visit and the content providers they use, but does not automatically block them. You can choose to allow or block any content provider that InPrivate Filtering identifies as receiving information about your browsing. Alternatively, you can have InPrivate Filtering automatically block any content provider, or you can turn off InPrivate Filtering.

To turn off InPrivate Filtering, follow these steps:

1. Open Internet Explorer by clicking the Start button , and then clicking Internet Explorer.
2. Click the Safety button, and then click InPrivate Filtering Settings.

   

3. To turn off InPrivate Filtering, click Off.
4. Click OK.

SmartScreen Filter helps to protect you in three ways:

• It operates in the background as you browse the web, analyzing webpages and determining if they have any characteristics that might be suspicious. If it finds suspicious webpages, SmartScreen will display a message giving you an opportunity to provide feedback and advising you to proceed with caution.
• SmartScreen Filter checks the sites you visit against an up-to-the-hour, dynamic list of reported phishing sites and malicious software sites. If it finds a match, SmartScreen Filter will show you a red warning notifying you that the site has been blocked for your safety.
• SmartScreen Filter also checks files downloaded from the web against the same dynamic list of reported malicious software sites. If it finds a match, SmartScreen Filter will show a red warning notifying you that the download has been blocked for your safety.

To disable SmartScreen Filtering, follow these steps:

• Open Internet Explorer 8.
• Click the Safety button, and then click SmartScreen Filter and Turn Off SmartScreen Filter.
• Select Turn off SmartScreen Filter and click on OK.
  
  Note: This is if it SmartScreen Filter is currently enabled.

Another thing you can do that may help is click the Compatibility View button, which will cause IE8 to show web sites has if it was an older version of IE. When I first saw this button, I just thought to myself, 'oh oh, this can't be good.' Microsoft just basically broke a bunch of websites.





If you have already installed IE8 with great regret, and none of the above help to make it work better for you, you have the option of uninstalling it and revert back to IE7 or install an alternate browser, such as, Firefox.

From the Microsoft Website [ Source ]

Note If you are not sure which version of Windows that you are running, or if you need help verifying that you are an administrator, click here to determine your environment ( http://support.microsoft.com/gp/admin ) .

Important You cannot uninstall Internet Explorer 8 if it is set as not removable. This occurs if you install Internet Explorer 8 before you install Service Pack 3 (SP3) for Windows XP. If this scenario applies to you, then you must uninstall SP3 before you can uninstall Internet Explorer 8. For more information about this issue, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
950719 ( http://support.microsoft.com/kb/950719/ ) You cannot uninstall Internet Explorer 7 or Internet Explorer 8 after you install Windows XP Service Pack 3

Steps for Windows Vista or for Windows Server 2008

To uninstall Internet Explorer 8, follow these steps:

1. Close all programs.
2. Click Start, and then click Control Panel.
3. Click Uninstall a Program under the Programs category
4. In the Tasks pane, click View installed updates.
5. In the list of installed updates, double-click Windows Internet Explorer 8.
   
   Note If Windows Internet Explorer 8 does not appear in the list of installed updates, try the alternative steps for Windows Vista or for Windows Server 2008.
6. In the Uninstall an update dialog box, click Yes.
   
   Note If you are prompted for an administrator password or for confirmation, type the password, or click Continue.
7. Follow the instructions to uninstall Internet Explorer 8.
8. When the uninstall program is finished, restart your computer.

Steps for Windows XP or for Windows Server 2003

To uninstall Internet Explorer 8, follow these steps:

1. Close all programs.
2. Click Start, and then click Control Panel.
3. Click Add or Remove Programs.
4. In the list of currently installed programs, click Windows Internet Explorer 8, and then click Remove.Note If Windows Internet Explorer 8 does not appear in the list of installed updates, try the alternative steps for Windows XP or for Windows Server 2003.
5. Follow the instructions to uninstall Internet Explorer 8.
6. When the uninstall program is finished, restart your computer.