INFO: Why Visual Basic 6 and Visual Studio 6.0 Require IE4

MORE INFORMATION

The Visual Basic 6.0 and Visual Studio 6.0 installation programs will not continue until IE 4.01 with Service Pack 1 is installed. There are two installation options for IE, and either is efficient to meet this system requirement: Internet Explorer 4.01 with Service Pack 1 is essential to view the Online Help files, which are now on the Microsoft Developer Network (MSDN) CD.
The new Internet features in Visual Basic 6.0 can not be used if Internet Explorer 4.01 browser with Service Pack 1 is not installed, or is removed from the system.

The Visual Basic and Visual Studio installation programs will install Internet Explorer 4.01 browser with Service Pack 1. Afterwards, you will be asked to reboot the machine. After the reboot, you will be returned to the Visual Studio 98 Installation Wizard to continue installation.

NOTE: Windows 98 ships with Internet Explorer 4.01 with Service Pack 1, and therefore will not need to be installed by the Visual Basic or Visual Studio installation programs.

Uninstalling Internet Explorer 4.01 with Service Pack 1 from the Add/Remove programs via Control Panel results in the a dialog box with the following message: A list of the Visual Studio products installed and other programs dependent on Internet Explorer 4.01 browser with Service Pack 1 are displayed.