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Desktop Update Lost by Running Windows NT 4.0 SP4 Uninstall

Article ID: 194965

Article Last Modified on 11/1/2006

APPLIES TO

This article was previously published under Q194965

SYMPTOMS

The desktop update and the Internet Explorer icon will be lost after running the uninstall for Windows NT 4.0 Service Pack 4 (SP4) if the Internet Explorer 4.x Browser was installed previous to applying SP4 as browser only, and the desktop update was not installed until after SP4.

CAUSE

The Service Pack 4 installation creates an uninstall folder by default that will contain the current system files including Shell32.dll and Explorer.exe. When the Internet Explorer desktop update is installed, it will replace these files but will not update the files in the SP4 uninstall folder. If SP4 is uninstalled, the files that were on the system when SP4 was installed will be restored.

RESOLUTION

To work around this problem, reapply the desktop update:

  1. In Control Panel, double-click Add/Remove Programs.
  2. Select Microsoft Internet Explorer 4.0 and click Add/Remove.
  3. Select Add the Windows Desktop Update Component from Web Site.

MORE INFORMATION

This will be an issue with any software installed after Service Pack 4 that replaces Windows NT system files.

Keywords: kbbug KB194965


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