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MS Edge Removal 20H2 (almost done)
Hello all. I am running the 20H2 update and have been attempting to remove Microsoft Edge for some time now. It has always been tricky, but possible. Now Microsoft tell me Edge is a system service and cannot be removed. Well, not quite true, if my delete key works I can still delete things, even if I have to use the Take Ownership in my context menu.
I have been chatting / talking to MS Support for hours, they all tell me it is not possible. So, I spent a few hours searching HDD and Registry for anything Edge related and deleted almost everything. Prior to that, I had tried every single other way I could find to remove it, none work anymore. Included changing the IsInbox value to 0 in Sys_Repo to enable removal. I tried the scripts that previously used.
So, where am I now. I am almost happy with my results so far.
Edge no longer has any links to it, for anything, including those links in PC settings. Great, going forward I expect to find the registry key for that and look to set for another browser.
When doing a PS to see installed programs Edge has no install location.
When setting default apps, Edge is not even an option.
What I need some help with, is how to remove the last bits of MS Edge left lying around the system.
It still shows up in the applications list, both by searching start and in the apps list in settings.
I have been search for where the computer lists the installed programs. I have found all the normal locations, none seem to be for these links. I have found a DLL called EdgeManager, which when viewing in Resource Hacker showed this:
{
VALUE "CompanyName", "Microsoft Corporation"
VALUE "FileDescription", "Microsoft Edge Manager"
VALUE "FileVersion", "11.00.19041.867 (WinBuild.160101.0800)"
VALUE "InternalName", "EdgeManager"
VALUE "LegalCopyright", "\xA9 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved."
VALUE "OriginalFilename", "EdgeManager.dll"
VALUE "ProductName", "Microsoft Edge"
VALUE "ProductVersion", "11.00.19041.867"
}
So I deleted that (well, renamed to .old, DLLs are scary-lol) - yet, MS Edge still shows up as something installed, at least chunks of it. At least, as far as I can tell MS Edge is gone, does not function, does not show in process monitor, no links work for it. This is great news for me, so far. Also, my computer is usable following cold boot in half the time it was when Edge was function, literally half the time. Windows logs on, starts, and just works then and there.
P.S. I know Edge is meant to be great, if it was optional, I might have considered having a look, it has been forced on me and I don't want it. It wasn't all that long ago and spent a few hours to remove Cortana, now I just have to click uninstall. That's brilliant.
Thanks in advance for any help you can provide, I have read a load of forum posts about the removal of Edge, most of the comments are from people saying the OS has only been broken, Edge is good, do what I do, just ignore it. Let's please keep this post on the topic of removal only, please.
Edition Windows 10 Pro
Version 20H2
Installed on 15/12/2020
OS build 19042.928
Experience Windows Feature Experience Pack 120.2212.551.0
Last edited by TidySean; 07 May 2021 at 06:39.