Internet Explorer 7 Update

Dissecting Leftism hears from a reader who had much the same experience I did after downloading IE7.

After being prompted by my computer to download and install the latest Windows update, it asked me to also upgrade my browser to IE7 (I was using IE6).I like to use IE most of the time because I run so many websites, and I like to see them through the same viewer as the majority of the population. So I decided to go ahead and update IE. After it finished, I was no longer able to launch an IE browser. In fact, any time I attempted to, it froze my entire computer. I even tried right clicking the IE icon on my desktop, so I could check on the settings and THAT made my computer freeze too. At first I thought it killed my internet connection, but fortunately I was able to connect using Mozila FireFox so I could do a quick search. What I discovered was that hundreds (probably thousands) of people have posted similar problems in the past week, meaning it is likely affecting MILLIONS of people. I simply did a Windows System Restore to yesterday's restore point, and all is good again. If you haven't updated to IE7 yet, I would suggest waiting for a few months and making sure the general word on the street is a "go" before trying it.

Yes! I inexplicably forgot to mention that after downloading IE7, my computer, upon rebooting, would bring up Windows XP with nothing but the landscape:  no icons and no menus.  I, too, had to reboot in "safe mode" and specify "last known safe settings."  That did take care of the problem, but I'm not so sure that the majority of Windows users would know to try it.

I was perilously close to losing everything and reinstalling the original software disk.  Be afraid, be very afraid.