Update Windows 95 to Internet Explorer 5.5

This article explains how the original Internet Explorer in Windows 95 was updated to Internet Explorer 5.5. Rather than an incremental Windows operating system patch, upgrading to Internet Explorer 5.5 required a dedicated standalone installation package called Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.5 and Internet Tools. This software package replaced the legacy browser components, updated system runtime files, and served as the final version of Internet Explorer supported on the Windows 95 operating system.

When Windows 95 initially launched in August 1995, it did not include a web browser out of the box. Users acquired Internet Explorer 1.0 via the Microsoft Plus! companion pack, while later OEM Service Releases (OSR) bundled Internet Explorer 2.0, 3.0, or 4.0. To bring any of these base versions to Internet Explorer 5.5, users had to run the dedicated Internet Explorer 5.5 setup engine rather than a standard hotfix or minor operating system patch.

The upgrade was primarily deployed through two distribution methods:

  • Internet Explorer 5.5 Setup Utility (ie55setup.exe): A lightweight bootstrap installer that connected to Microsoft servers, detected the existing Windows 95 configuration, and downloaded the required cabinet (.CAB) files to install the browser and its associated tools.
  • Full Standalone Redistributable: A complete offline installation archive commonly distributed on promotional CDs, Microsoft TechNet discs, and MSDN media, allowing administrators to upgrade machines without an active dial-up or local network internet connection.

Before the installer could finalize the upgrade to version 5.5 on original retail releases of Windows 95, the system often required prerequisite system patches. These prerequisites included the Distributed Component Object Model update (DCOM95) and the Windows Sockets 2.0 (Winsock 2) update to ensure proper networking and system shell integration.

Once installed, Internet Explorer 5.5 (and its subsequent Service Pack 1 and Service Pack 2 updates) completely replaced older browser binaries and provided enhanced support for CSS, JavaScript, and 128-bit encryption. Internet Explorer 5.5 Service Pack 2 was the final supported browser milestone for Windows 95, as its successor, Internet Explorer 6.0, required Windows 98 or higher.