Microsoft may be testing a Windows 7 OS version which has IE 8 disabled by default, why the company wants to do this is a huge mystery to me, but it sure has the web abuzz. This new option is more than likely in response to the recent accusations by the EU for antitrust issues that Microsoft has used its dominant Windows market share position to force other software, like Internet Explorer, onto the market. The company is probably finding that it is becoming quite expensive to be so strict on their integrated software.

Individuals who have tried the Windows 7 Beta build 7048, found that in order to utilize Microsoft's removal tool, you must reboot the computer twice and run additional configuration steps. This does not completely uninstall Internet Explorer 8; however, instead it erases the executable I8 file.

[Theregister]