Unable to Install Internet Explorer 6 on Windows XP (304872)



The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Internet Explorer version 6 for Windows XP
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer Administration Kit version 6

This article was previously published under Q304872
IMPORTANT: This article contains information about modifying the registry. Before you modify the registry, make sure to back it up and make sure that you understand how to restore the registry if a problem occurs. For information about how to back up, restore, and edit the registry, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

256986 Description of the Microsoft Windows Registry

SYMPTOMS

When you try to install Internet Explorer 6 on a computer that is running Windows XP, you may receive the following error message:
Setup has detected a newer version of Internet Explorer already installed on this system.
Setup cannot continue.

CAUSE

This behavior can occur if Internet Explorer 6 has already been installed and the installation package does not contain any new customizations.

RESOLUTION

WARNING: If you use Registry Editor incorrectly, you may cause serious problems that may require you to reinstall your operating system. Microsoft cannot guarantee that you can solve problems that result from using Registry Editor incorrectly. Use Registry Editor at your own risk.

To work around this issue and reinstall the same customized Internet Explorer 6 installation package a second time, change the IsInstalled (REG_DWORD) value for the Branding component from 1 to 0 in the following registry key:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Active Setup\Installed Components

The name of the Branding key contains a 32-character alphanumeric globally unique identifier (GUID) in the format of {XXXXXXXX-XXXX-XXXX-XXXX-XXXXXXXXXXXX}. This format varies, but the name always begins with a greater than (>) character. To identify the correct key for the Branding component, look for a key name that begins with a greater than character that contains a ComponentID string value that is set to "Branding.cab".

To reinstall the same version of Internet Explorer or repair Internet Explorer 6 and Outlook Express 6 in Windows XP, see the following Microsoft Knowledge Base article:

318378 How to Reinstall or Repair Internet Explorer and Outlook Express in Windows XP

STATUS

This behavior is by design.

MORE INFORMATION

Internet Explorer 6 can be installed once on Windows XP to allow customizations to be applied by an Internet service provider, Internet content provider, or a corporate administrator that used the Internet Explorer Administration Kit (IEAK) to create an installation package. Because Windows XP does not install the Internet Explorer Exception Pack, Internet Explorer 6 also installs this component on Windows XP.

Modification Type:MinorLast Reviewed:11/30/2005
Keywords:kbenv kberrmsg kbprb kbsetup KB304872