Inline:

wrote:
I have been told that Windows Express Update will install IE7.
I vaguely recall that IE7 is not a good thing. But I don't know
any specifics.

Up until about week ago, Windows Update was offering IE7 as a High-Priority,
not a Critical, update. It's now offered as an Optional update.

Is there truly any reason to avoid IE7?

Not IMHO, no.

Do I need to do anything special during or after installing IE7
in order for OE to work cleanly?

Not unless you access an MSN/Hotmail account in OE, no.

(My understanding is that OE is part of IE6, but not IE7.)

Installing IE7 doesn't not update OE(6).

Are there any (other) hiccups to be aware of during or after
installing IE7?

Required reading IMHO before installing IE7:

Sandi's Installation Tips = FOLLOW THESE TIPS TO THE LETTER!
http://www.ie-vista.com/known_issues.html#pre-install

[And I strongly recommend using
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/ie/default.mspx as the installation source,
not Automatic/Windows Update.]

IEBlog : IE7 Installation and Anti-Malware Applications
http://blogs.msdn.com/ie/archive/200...lications.aspx

PS: What is the rationale for including a product update (IE7
replacing IE6) among "critical" updates? Does IE7 fix any
critical problem in IE6? Just curious....

What's New in Internet Explorer 7
http://msdn.microsoft.com/workshop/e...asp?frame=true

Release Notes
http://msdn2.microsoft.com/ie/Aa740486

This is an OE6-specific newsgroup. Those with IE7-specific questions or
comments are asked to post to and seek support in this newsgroup:
microsoft.public.internetexplorer.general

On the web:
http://www.microsoft.com/communities...orer. general

In your newsreader:
news://msnews.microsoft.com/microsof...plorer.general
--
~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
MS MVP-Windows (IE, OE, Security, Shell/User)