I installed Internet Explorer 5, but where's my Active Desktop?
By: Arie SlobInternet Explorer 5 does not contain the Active Desktop. In order to have Active Desktop in Internet Explorer 5, you need to install Internet Explorer 4 with Active Desktop first.
The Windows Desktop Update component which is included with Internet Explorer 4.x and Windows 98 includes the following enhancements to the classic Windows shell:
- The Active Desktop
- A single, customizable Explorer with Web View
- A Web-integrated Start menu and taskbar
- (Single) Click (rather than double-click) items to open them; point at items to select them
To add Windows Desktop Update during Setup, click Yes when you are prompted to install the Windows Desktop Update components.
Note: You are not prompted to install Windows Desktop Update during Setup when:
- You are installing a downloaded copy of Internet Explorer 4.x from a folder on your local hard disk or network share, and you chose not to download the Windows Desktop Update components
- Windows Desktop Update is already enabled, and you are reinstalling Internet Explorer 4.x
To add Windows Desktop Update if Internet Explorer 4.x is already installed, follow these steps:
- Select Start > Settings > Control Panel, and then double- click Add/Remove Programs
- On the Install/Uninstall tab, click Microsoft Internet Explorer 4.0 in the list of installed programs, and then click Add/Remove
- Click Add Windows Desktop Update component from Web site, and then click OK. This loads the Internet Explorer 4.0 Components Download Web page
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Click Yes when you are prompted with the following message:
Active Setup is about to determine what Internet components are installed on your computer. Is this OK?
- Click the Windows Desktop Update check box to select it, and then click Next
- Select a download site in the list, and then click Install Now to download and install Windows Desktop Update
Note: If you downloaded the Windows Desktop Update components when you downloaded Internet Explorer 4.x to a folder on your local hard disk or a network share, you can install Windows Desktop Update without downloading it from the Download Components Web page by following these steps:
- Double-click the Ie4setup.exe file in the \Internet Explorer 4.0 Setup folder
- Click Yes when you are prompted to install the Windows Desktop Update components
- When you are prompted to Upgrade Only Newer Items or Reinstall All Components, select Upgrade Only Newer Items, click OK, and then continue with Active Setup