IE 4 gives Windows 98 an Internet-friendly user-interface, merging the disk filing system with the IE browser and adding multi-function toolbars to the desktop. This is used by default under Windows 98, but was supplied to Windows 95 by Internet Explorer 4 with a feature called Shell Integration. To find out how, click the hyperlinks in the feature highlights section, or choose from the section-by-section guide.

IE 4 Shell Integration - Feature Highlights

As well as acting as a stand-alone browser, IE 4 can be integrated into the Windows 95 desktop user interface - an option called 'Shell Integration Mode'. The major effect of this is to merge the functions of Win 95's traditional desktop filing windows (and Windows Explorer) with those of the IE 4 browser, giving a 'seamless' browsing experience covering both local hard disks and the Internet.     Shell Integration Mode also upgrades the Win 95 Start Menu and Task Bar, introducing a new system of customisable Desktop toolbars which provide fast access to folders, programs, documents and Internet locations.  Finally, the upgraded interface allows you to customise the way your local disk folders are presented by designing special HTML pages to display the folder contents.

Internet Explorer 4 Shell Integration Mode Section-by-Section The Start Menu, Task Bar and Desktop Toolbars. Working with disk browser windows (and Windows Explorer) in single-click, Web-style integration mode. Browsing between local and Web content in a single window. Customising your browse windows with backgrounds and HTML pages.