Hi all. Since I had my C drive wiped and XP 2003 Prof. installed the Internet Explorer tab is not on the Start Menu so I did a search & discovered it is shown in the “Programs Folder” as being installed & taking up 6.65 MB of space on the C drive. Yet in the “Control Panel” in Add/ Delete programes, it is listed but is said to be without size. If it is in fact there, where do I find the “e” symbol [tab] that was originally in the Start menu? I mainly use Firefox but occasionally might want to use IE. Thank you Dave.
![]() |
Patch reliability is unclear. Unless you have an immediate, pressing need to install a specific patch, don't do it. |
SIGN IN | Not a member? | REGISTER | PLUS MEMBERSHIP |
-
Where is I Explorer?
Home » Forums » AskWoody support » Questions: Browsers and desktop software » Internet Explorer and Edge » Where is I Explorer?
- This topic has 15 replies, 5 voices, and was last updated 15 years, 11 months ago.
AuthorTopicWSSilver Fox
AskWoody LoungerMay 24, 2009 at 4:00 pm #460065Viewing 0 reply threadsAuthorReplies-
WSHansV
AskWoody LoungerMay 24, 2009 at 4:38 pm #1161920Start Windows Explorer.
Navigate to the folder C:Program FilesInternet Explorer.
Locate the file iexplore.exe.
Drag this file to the Start button in the lower left corner. Don’t release the mouse button yet!
Wait until the Start Menu pops up.
If you want the shortcut in the Start menu, drag to the desired location, then release the mouse button.
But if you want the shortcut in the Programs menu, move the mouse pointer to the (All) Programs menu.
Wait until the Programs menu flies out.
Drag the mouse pointer to the place where you want a shortcut, then release the mouse button.
You’ll now have a shortcut to iexplore.exe in the Start | (All) Programs menu.
Right-click the shortcut and select Rename from the popup menu to change its name to (for example) Internet Explorer 8. -
WSSilver Fox
AskWoody LoungerMay 24, 2009 at 5:35 pm #1161925Start Windows Explorer.
Navigate to the folder C:Program FilesInternet Explorer.
Locate the file iexplore.exe.
Drag this file to the Start button in the lower left corner. Don’t release the mouse button yet!
Wait until the Start Menu pops up.
If you want the shortcut in the Start menu, drag to the desired location, then release the mouse button.
But if you want the shortcut in the Programs menu, move the mouse pointer to the (All) Programs menu.
Wait until the Programs menu flies out.
Drag the mouse pointer to the place where you want a shortcut, then release the mouse button.
You’ll now have a shortcut to iexplore.exe in the Start | (All) Programs menu.
Right-click the shortcut and select Rename from the popup menu to change its name to (for example) Internet Explorer 8.Many thanks Hans. Simple & concise info but despite placing the said IE shortcut on the Start menu it will not open, please see attachments for details. Thank you again.
-
WSHansV
AskWoody LoungerMay 24, 2009 at 5:39 pm #1161926You must have done someting not quite right, for the shortcut doesn’t have the Internet Explorer icon.
Right-click the shortcut.
Select Properties from the popup menu.
Enter the following in the Target box, including the quotes:“C:Program FilesInternet Exploreriexplore.exe”
Click OK.
Now try again. -
WSSilver Fox
AskWoody LoungerMay 24, 2009 at 6:54 pm #1161934You must have done someting not quite right, for the shortcut doesn’t have the Internet Explorer icon.
Right-click the shortcut.
Select Properties from the popup menu.
Enter the following in the Target box, including the quotes:“C:Program FilesInternet Exploreriexplore.exe”
Click OK.
Now try again.Hello Hans…. I can assure you I followed your instructions to the letter and the [ iexplore.exe ] icon in question did surprise me in that it does not look like the normal blue “e” with the yelow circle round it. (see fig 1.) Also, when I entered “C:Program FilesInternet Exploreriexplore.exe” into the Target box it rejected the string of data because it contains the following symbols ” : . Awaiting further directions please…. Regards Dave.
-
WSHansV
AskWoody LoungerMay 24, 2009 at 7:12 pm #1161938It looks like you’re trying to change the properties of iexplore.exe itself, not those of the shortcut in your start menu.
But there is something wrong with your installation of IE8 – the file size 12 KB of iexplore.exe is much too small, and the name is wrong too – there shouldn’t be a point after the name.
I think you’ll have to reinstall IE8. I’d ask whoever set up the PC for you to do this. -
WSSilver Fox
AskWoody LoungerMay 24, 2009 at 7:32 pm #1161941It looks like you’re trying to change the properties of iexplore.exe itself, not those of the shortcut in your start menu.
But there is something wrong with your installation of IE8 – the file size 12 KB of iexplore.exe is much too small, and the name is wrong too – there shouldn’t be a point after the name.
I think you’ll have to reinstall IE8. I’d ask whoever set up the PC for you to do this.Thanks Hans ….I thought there must be something amiss with the installed version, maybe I’ll just be content with Firefox rather than have to take the computer back to the shop. I get peeved of with having to unplug all the cables and plugs & hugging it round to the shop. Thanks for the info anyway. Regards Dave.
-
WSRebel
AskWoody Lounger -
WSSilver Fox
AskWoody LoungerMay 25, 2009 at 2:52 pm #1162091I believe that you must have IE installed (and working properly) to use Windows Update.
Three questions John….. On what grounds do you suggest I have IE installed and working properly; from the attachment -which shows the contents of the IE folder- Hans suggested I drag the one named “iexplore.exe” which as my relies explained I did but it did not work. Finally, if as you suggest IE is installed and working ok where is the icon with the “e” symbol on it & which icon can be dragged to the Start menu that can be used to access IE??? Regards Dave
-
WSHansV
AskWoody LoungerMay 25, 2009 at 2:57 pm #1162130 -
WSRebel
AskWoody LoungerMay 25, 2009 at 3:10 pm #1162131Three questions John….. On what grounds do you suggest I have IE installed and working properly; from the attachment -which shows the contents of the IE folder- Hans suggested I drag the one named “iexplore.exe” which as my relies explained I did but it did not work. Finally, if as you suggest IE is installed and working ok where is the icon with the “e” symbol on it & which icon can be dragged to the Start menu that can be used to access IE??? Regards Dave
Read my post again Dave (“I believe that you must have IE installed (and working properly) to use Windows Update“). I agree with Hans that there certainly does seem to be something wrong with the installation of IE.
You responded that “I’ll just be content with Firefox rather than have to take the computer back to the shop”. What I am saying is that in order to use many of the MS sites (including Windows Update) you must have IE installed and working properly. In other words, your alternative to continue WITHOUT IE doesn’t seem (to me at least) to be a very wise option – unless of course you don’t (and won’t in future) require any updates from Microsoft.
-
WSDocWatson
AskWoody LoungerMay 25, 2009 at 4:09 pm #1162139……. Finally, if as you suggest IE is installed and working ok where is the icon with the “e” symbol on it & which icon can be dragged to the Start menu that can be used to access IE???
Dave,
When you finally get IE installed and “working properly”(
), if the IE icon does not appear on the Start menu, simply right click on the Start button, select Properties and on the Start Menu tab click the Customize button and make sure that Internet is selected and IE is chosen as the browser in the Show on Start menu area.
-
WSSilver Fox
AskWoody LoungerMay 25, 2009 at 5:11 pm #1162145Dave,
When you finally get IE installed and “working properly”(
), if the IE icon does not appear on the Start menu, simply right click on the Start button, select Properties and on the Start Menu tab click the Customize button and make sure that Internet is selected and IE is chosen as the browser in the Show on Start menu area.
A thousand thanks gentlemen for all your posts, as the first attachment shows, the IE “e” icon now appears on the start menu & -thanks to Doc’s post, is set as the default browser. Incidentally guys, one of the reasons why I asked the question in the first place was because -not only was the IE tab not shown on the “Start” menu but as the attachment in my first post shows; the size next to IE in “Add / Remove progs” menu was Nill. WELL….. now that IE IS installed & working just fine, the size still reads NIL in “Add / Remove”… This IT stuff sure does puzzle me BUT thanks to this amazing forum, I am enabled yet again to scramble out of the mire of despond which I [like Pilgrim in Pilgrim’s Progress] find myself in too often for my well being. Being 71 next month means I don’t have an abundance of hair but without this great forum it could well be even less. Thank you all so much. Dave.
-
WSHansV
AskWoody LoungerMay 25, 2009 at 5:24 pm #1162147 -
WSSilver Fox
AskWoody LoungerMay 25, 2009 at 6:04 pm #1162152The size of an application in the Add or Remove Programs control panel is often inaccurate, as is the usage information displayed when you select an application by clicking on its name. This is a long-standing bug in Windows, it’s nothing to worry about.
Thanks Hans, the fact that IE is now A OK is all that matters it was just an anomaly that caught my attention. Regards Dave.
-
WSviking33
AskWoody LoungerMay 25, 2009 at 3:18 pm #1162133Thanks Hans ….I thought there must be something amiss with the installed version, maybe I’ll just be content with Firefox rather than have to take the computer back to the shop. I get peeved of with having to unplug all the cables and plugs & hugging it round to the shop. Thanks for the info anyway. Regards Dave.
Hans is correct. The file size of iexplore.exe is much too small. ( in my setup, it is 620k )
You have a “blown” installation of IE8. Uninstall it. It should revert back to IE7.
Then reinstall IE8.
-
-
-
-
Viewing 0 reply threads -

Plus Membership
Donations from Plus members keep this site going. You can identify the people who support AskWoody by the Plus badge on their avatars.
AskWoody Plus members not only get access to all of the contents of this site -- including Susan Bradley's frequently updated Patch Watch listing -- they also receive weekly AskWoody Plus Newsletters (formerly Windows Secrets Newsletter) and AskWoody Plus Alerts, emails when there are important breaking developments.
Get Plus!
Welcome to our unique respite from the madness.
It's easy to post questions about Windows 11, Windows 10, Win8.1, Win7, Surface, Office, or browse through our Forums. Post anonymously or register for greater privileges. Keep it civil, please: Decorous Lounge rules strictly enforced. Questions? Contact Customer Support.
Search Newsletters
Search Forums
View the Forum
Search for Topics
Recent Topics
-
Intel : CVE-2024-45332, CVE-2024-43420, CVE-2025-20623
by
Alex5723
55 minutes ago -
False error message from eMClient
by
WSSebastian42
5 hours, 34 minutes ago -
Awoke to a rebooted Mac (crashed?)
by
rebop2020
3 hours, 50 minutes ago -
Office 2021 Perpetual for Mac
by
rebop2020
5 hours, 2 minutes ago -
AutoSave is for Microsoft, not for you
by
Will Fastie
8 hours, 20 minutes ago -
Difface : Reconstruction of 3D Human Facial Images from DNA Sequence
by
Alex5723
8 hours, 34 minutes ago -
Seven things we learned from WhatsApp vs. NSO Group spyware lawsuit
by
Alex5723
8 hours, 56 minutes ago -
Outdated Laptop
by
jdamkeene
14 hours ago -
Updating Keepass2Android
by
CBFPD-Chief115
19 hours, 25 minutes ago -
Another big Microsoft layoff
by
Charlie
19 hours, 5 minutes ago -
PowerShell to detect NPU – Testers Needed
by
RetiredGeek
2 hours ago -
May 2025 updates are out
by
Susan Bradley
1 hour, 25 minutes ago -
Windows 11 Insider Preview build 26200.5600 released to DEV
by
joep517
1 day, 1 hour ago -
Windows 11 Insider Preview build 26120.3964 (24H2) released to BETA
by
joep517
1 day, 1 hour ago -
Drivers suggested via Windows Update
by
Tex265
1 day, 1 hour ago -
Thunderbird release notes for 128 esr have disappeared
by
EricB
22 hours, 45 minutes ago -
CISA mutes own website, shifts routine cyber alerts to X, RSS, email
by
Nibbled To Death By Ducks
1 day, 8 hours ago -
Apple releases 18.5
by
Susan Bradley
1 day, 2 hours ago -
Fedora Linux 40 will go end of life for updates and support on 2025-05-13.
by
Alex5723
1 day, 9 hours ago -
How a new type of AI is helping police skirt facial recognition bans
by
Alex5723
1 day, 10 hours ago -
Windows 7 ISO /Windows 10 ISO
by
ECWS
17 hours, 20 minutes ago -
No HP software folders
by
fpefpe
1 day, 17 hours ago -
Which antivirus apps and VPNs are the most secure in 2025?
by
B. Livingston
15 hours, 5 minutes ago -
Stay connected anywhere
by
Peter Deegan
1 day, 23 hours ago -
Copilot, under the table
by
Will Fastie
1 hour, 33 minutes ago -
The Windows experience
by
Will Fastie
2 days, 5 hours ago -
A tale of two operating systems
by
Susan Bradley
9 hours, 36 minutes ago -
Microsoft : Resolving Blue Screen errors in Windows
by
Alex5723
2 days, 10 hours ago -
Where’s the cache today?
by
Up2you2
3 days, 2 hours ago -
Ascension says recent data breach affects over 430,000 patients
by
Nibbled To Death By Ducks
2 days, 18 hours ago
Recent blog posts
Key Links
Want to Advertise in the free newsletter? How about a gift subscription in honor of a birthday? Send an email to sb@askwoody.com to ask how.
Mastodon profile for DefConPatch
Mastodon profile for AskWoody
Home • About • FAQ • Posts & Privacy • Forums • My Account
Register • Free Newsletter • Plus Membership • Gift Certificates • MS-DEFCON Alerts
Copyright ©2004-2025 by AskWoody Tech LLC. All Rights Reserved.