diff --git a/Doc/library/functions.rst b/Doc/library/functions.rst
index 266611d..ff6069d 100644
--- a/Doc/library/functions.rst
+++ b/Doc/library/functions.rst
@@ -22,8 +22,7 @@
    The function is invoked by the :keyword:`import` statement.  It mainly exists
    so that you can replace it with another function that has a compatible
    interface, in order to change the semantics of the :keyword:`import`
-   statement.  For examples of why and how you would do this, see the standard
-   library module :mod:`ihooks`.  See also the built-in module :mod:`imp`, which
+   statement. See also the built-in module :mod:`imp`, which
    defines some useful operations out of which you can build your own
    :func:`__import__` function.
 
diff --git a/Doc/library/undoc.rst b/Doc/library/undoc.rst
index 78098b0..62157d4 100644
--- a/Doc/library/undoc.rst
+++ b/Doc/library/undoc.rst
@@ -14,15 +14,6 @@
 revised.
 
 
-Miscellaneous useful utilities
-==============================
-
-Some of these are very old and/or not very robust; marked with "hmm."
-
-:mod:`ihooks`
-   --- Import hook support (for :mod:`rexec`; may become obsolete).
-
-
 Platform specific modules
 =========================
 
diff --git a/Lib/ihooks.py b/Lib/ihooks.py
deleted file mode 100644
index 433f513..0000000
--- a/Lib/ihooks.py
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,514 +0,0 @@
-"""Import hook support.
-
-Consistent use of this module will make it possible to change the
-different mechanisms involved in loading modules independently.
-
-While the built-in module imp exports interfaces to the built-in
-module searching and loading algorithm, and it is possible to replace
-the built-in function __import__ in order to change the semantics of
-the import statement, until now it has been difficult to combine the
-effect of different __import__ hacks, like loading modules from URLs
-by rimport.py.
-
-This module defines three new concepts:
-
-1) A "file system hooks" class provides an interface to a filesystem.
-
-One hooks class is defined (Hooks), which uses the interface provided
-by standard modules os and os.path.  It should be used as the base
-class for other hooks classes.
-
-2) A "module loader" class provides an interface to search for a
-module in a search path and to load it.  It defines a method which
-searches for a module in a single directory; by overriding this method
-one can redefine the details of the search.  If the directory is None,
-built-in and frozen modules are searched instead.
-
-Two module loader class are defined, both implementing the search
-strategy used by the built-in __import__ function: ModuleLoader uses
-the imp module's find_module interface, while HookableModuleLoader
-uses a file system hooks class to interact with the file system.  Both
-use the imp module's load_* interfaces to actually load the module.
-
-3) A "module importer" class provides an interface to import a
-module, as well as interfaces to reload and unload a module.  It also
-provides interfaces to install and uninstall itself instead of the
-default __import__ and reload (and unload) functions.
-
-One module importer class is defined (ModuleImporter), which uses a
-module loader instance passed in (by default HookableModuleLoader is
-instantiated).
-
-The classes defined here should be used as base classes for extended
-functionality along those lines.
-
-If a module importer class supports dotted names, its import_module()
-must return a different value depending on whether it is called on
-behalf of a "from ... import ..." statement or not.  (This is caused
-by the way the __import__ hook is used by the Python interpreter.)
-"""
-
-
-import builtins
-import imp
-import os
-import sys
-
-__all__ = ["BasicModuleLoader","Hooks","ModuleLoader","FancyModuleLoader",
-           "BasicModuleImporter","ModuleImporter","install","uninstall"]
-
-VERBOSE = 0
-
-
-from imp import C_EXTENSION, PY_SOURCE, PY_COMPILED
-from imp import C_BUILTIN, PY_FROZEN, PKG_DIRECTORY
-BUILTIN_MODULE = C_BUILTIN
-FROZEN_MODULE = PY_FROZEN
-
-
-class _Verbose:
-
-    def __init__(self, verbose = VERBOSE):
-        self.verbose = verbose
-
-    def get_verbose(self):
-        return self.verbose
-
-    def set_verbose(self, verbose):
-        self.verbose = verbose
-
-    # XXX The following is an experimental interface
-
-    def note(self, *args):
-        if self.verbose:
-            self.message(*args)
-
-    def message(self, format, *args):
-        if args:
-            print(format%args)
-        else:
-            print(format)
-
-
-class BasicModuleLoader(_Verbose):
-
-    """Basic module loader.
-
-    This provides the same functionality as built-in import.  It
-    doesn't deal with checking sys.modules -- all it provides is
-    find_module() and a load_module(), as well as find_module_in_dir()
-    which searches just one directory, and can be overridden by a
-    derived class to change the module search algorithm when the basic
-    dependency on sys.path is unchanged.
-
-    The interface is a little more convenient than imp's:
-    find_module(name, [path]) returns None or 'stuff', and
-    load_module(name, stuff) loads the module.
-
-    """
-
-    def find_module(self, name, path = None):
-        if path is None:
-            path = [None] + self.default_path()
-        for dir in path:
-            stuff = self.find_module_in_dir(name, dir)
-            if stuff: return stuff
-        return None
-
-    def default_path(self):
-        return sys.path
-
-    def find_module_in_dir(self, name, dir):
-        if dir is None:
-            return self.find_builtin_module(name)
-        else:
-            try:
-                return imp.find_module(name, [dir])
-            except ImportError:
-                return None
-
-    def find_builtin_module(self, name):
-        # XXX frozen packages?
-        if imp.is_builtin(name):
-            return None, '', ('', '', BUILTIN_MODULE)
-        if imp.is_frozen(name):
-            return None, '', ('', '', FROZEN_MODULE)
-        return None
-
-    def load_module(self, name, stuff):
-        file, filename, info = stuff
-        try:
-            return imp.load_module(name, file, filename, info)
-        finally:
-            if file: file.close()
-
-
-class Hooks(_Verbose):
-
-    """Hooks into the filesystem and interpreter.
-
-    By deriving a subclass you can redefine your filesystem interface,
-    e.g. to merge it with the URL space.
-
-    This base class behaves just like the native filesystem.
-
-    """
-
-    # imp interface
-    def get_suffixes(self): return imp.get_suffixes()
-    def new_module(self, name): return imp.new_module(name)
-    def is_builtin(self, name): return imp.is_builtin(name)
-    def init_builtin(self, name): return imp.init_builtin(name)
-    def is_frozen(self, name): return imp.is_frozen(name)
-    def init_frozen(self, name): return imp.init_frozen(name)
-    def get_frozen_object(self, name): return imp.get_frozen_object(name)
-    def load_source(self, name, filename, file=None):
-        return imp.load_source(name, filename, file)
-    def load_compiled(self, name, filename, file=None):
-        return imp.load_compiled(name, filename, file)
-    def load_dynamic(self, name, filename, file=None):
-        return imp.load_dynamic(name, filename, file)
-    def load_package(self, name, filename, file=None):
-        return imp.load_module(name, file, filename, ("", "", PKG_DIRECTORY))
-
-    def add_module(self, name):
-        d = self.modules_dict()
-        if name in d: return d[name]
-        d[name] = m = self.new_module(name)
-        return m
-
-    # sys interface
-    def modules_dict(self): return sys.modules
-    def default_path(self): return sys.path
-
-    def path_split(self, x): return os.path.split(x)
-    def path_join(self, x, y): return os.path.join(x, y)
-    def path_isabs(self, x): return os.path.isabs(x)
-    # etc.
-
-    def path_exists(self, x): return os.path.exists(x)
-    def path_isdir(self, x): return os.path.isdir(x)
-    def path_isfile(self, x): return os.path.isfile(x)
-    def path_islink(self, x): return os.path.islink(x)
-    # etc.
-
-    def openfile(self, *x): return open(*x)
-    openfile_error = IOError
-    def listdir(self, x): return os.listdir(x)
-    listdir_error = os.error
-    # etc.
-
-
-class ModuleLoader(BasicModuleLoader):
-
-    """Default module loader; uses file system hooks.
-
-    By defining suitable hooks, you might be able to load modules from
-    other sources than the file system, e.g. from compressed or
-    encrypted files, tar files or (if you're brave!) URLs.
-
-    """
-
-    def __init__(self, hooks = None, verbose = VERBOSE):
-        BasicModuleLoader.__init__(self, verbose)
-        self.hooks = hooks or Hooks(verbose)
-
-    def default_path(self):
-        return self.hooks.default_path()
-
-    def modules_dict(self):
-        return self.hooks.modules_dict()
-
-    def get_hooks(self):
-        return self.hooks
-
-    def set_hooks(self, hooks):
-        self.hooks = hooks
-
-    def find_builtin_module(self, name):
-        # XXX frozen packages?
-        if self.hooks.is_builtin(name):
-            return None, '', ('', '', BUILTIN_MODULE)
-        if self.hooks.is_frozen(name):
-            return None, '', ('', '', FROZEN_MODULE)
-        return None
-
-    def find_module_in_dir(self, name, dir, allow_packages=1):
-        if dir is None:
-            return self.find_builtin_module(name)
-        if allow_packages:
-            fullname = self.hooks.path_join(dir, name)
-            if self.hooks.path_isdir(fullname):
-                stuff = self.find_module_in_dir("__init__", fullname, 0)
-                if stuff:
-                    file = stuff[0]
-                    if file: file.close()
-                    return None, fullname, ('', '', PKG_DIRECTORY)
-        for info in self.hooks.get_suffixes():
-            suff, mode, type = info
-            fullname = self.hooks.path_join(dir, name+suff)
-            try:
-                fp = self.hooks.openfile(fullname, mode)
-                return fp, fullname, info
-            except self.hooks.openfile_error:
-                pass
-        return None
-
-    def load_module(self, name, stuff):
-        file, filename, info = stuff
-        (suff, mode, type) = info
-        try:
-            if type == BUILTIN_MODULE:
-                return self.hooks.init_builtin(name)
-            if type == FROZEN_MODULE:
-                return self.hooks.init_frozen(name)
-            if type == C_EXTENSION:
-                m = self.hooks.load_dynamic(name, filename, file)
-            elif type == PY_SOURCE:
-                m = self.hooks.load_source(name, filename, file)
-            elif type == PY_COMPILED:
-                m = self.hooks.load_compiled(name, filename, file)
-            elif type == PKG_DIRECTORY:
-                m = self.hooks.load_package(name, filename, file)
-            else:
-                raise ImportError("Unrecognized module type (%r) for %s"
-                                  % (type, name))
-        finally:
-            if file: file.close()
-        m.__file__ = filename
-        return m
-
-
-class FancyModuleLoader(ModuleLoader):
-
-    """Fancy module loader -- parses and execs the code itself."""
-
-    def load_module(self, name, stuff):
-        file, filename, (suff, mode, type) = stuff
-        realfilename = filename
-        path = None
-
-        if type == PKG_DIRECTORY:
-            initstuff = self.find_module_in_dir("__init__", filename, 0)
-            if not initstuff:
-                raise ImportError("No __init__ module in package %s" % name)
-            initfile, initfilename, initinfo = initstuff
-            initsuff, initmode, inittype = initinfo
-            if inittype not in (PY_COMPILED, PY_SOURCE):
-                if initfile: initfile.close()
-                raise ImportError("Bad type (%r) for __init__ module"
-                                  " in package %s" % (inittype, name))
-            path = [filename]
-            file = initfile
-            realfilename = initfilename
-            type = inittype
-
-        if type == FROZEN_MODULE:
-            code = self.hooks.get_frozen_object(name)
-        elif type == PY_COMPILED:
-            import marshal
-            file.seek(8)
-            code = marshal.load(file)
-        elif type == PY_SOURCE:
-            data = file.read()
-            code = compile(data, realfilename, 'exec')
-        else:
-            return ModuleLoader.load_module(self, name, stuff)
-
-        m = self.hooks.add_module(name)
-        if path:
-            m.__path__ = path
-        m.__file__ = filename
-        try:
-            exec(code, m.__dict__)
-        except:
-            d = self.hooks.modules_dict()
-            if name in d:
-                del d[name]
-            raise
-        return m
-
-
-class BasicModuleImporter(_Verbose):
-
-    """Basic module importer; uses module loader.
-
-    This provides basic import facilities but no package imports.
-
-    """
-
-    def __init__(self, loader = None, verbose = VERBOSE):
-        _Verbose.__init__(self, verbose)
-        self.loader = loader or ModuleLoader(None, verbose)
-        self.modules = self.loader.modules_dict()
-
-    def get_loader(self):
-        return self.loader
-
-    def set_loader(self, loader):
-        self.loader = loader
-
-    def get_hooks(self):
-        return self.loader.get_hooks()
-
-    def set_hooks(self, hooks):
-        return self.loader.set_hooks(hooks)
-
-    def import_module(self, name, globals={}, locals={}, fromlist=[]):
-        name = str(name)
-        if name in self.modules:
-            return self.modules[name] # Fast path
-        stuff = self.loader.find_module(name)
-        if not stuff:
-            raise ImportError("No module named %s" % name)
-        return self.loader.load_module(name, stuff)
-
-    def reload(self, module, path = None):
-        name = str(module.__name__)
-        stuff = self.loader.find_module(name, path)
-        if not stuff:
-            raise ImportError("Module %s not found for reload" % name)
-        return self.loader.load_module(name, stuff)
-
-    def unload(self, module):
-        del self.modules[str(module.__name__)]
-        # XXX Should this try to clear the module's namespace?
-
-    def install(self):
-        self.save_import_module = builtins.__import__
-        if not hasattr(builtins, 'unload'):
-            builtins.unload = None
-        self.save_unload = builtins.unload
-        builtins.__import__ = self.import_module
-        builtins.unload = self.unload
-
-    def uninstall(self):
-        builtins.__import__ = self.save_import_module
-        builtins.unload = self.save_unload
-        if not builtins.unload:
-            del builtins.unload
-
-
-class ModuleImporter(BasicModuleImporter):
-
-    """A module importer that supports packages."""
-
-    def import_module(self, name, globals=None, locals=None, fromlist=None):
-        parent = self.determine_parent(globals)
-        q, tail = self.find_head_package(parent, str(name))
-        m = self.load_tail(q, tail)
-        if not fromlist:
-            return q
-        if hasattr(m, "__path__"):
-            self.ensure_fromlist(m, fromlist)
-        return m
-
-    def determine_parent(self, globals):
-        if not globals or not "__name__" in globals:
-            return None
-        pname = globals['__name__']
-        if "__path__" in globals:
-            parent = self.modules[pname]
-            assert globals is parent.__dict__
-            return parent
-        if '.' in pname:
-            i = pname.rfind('.')
-            pname = pname[:i]
-            parent = self.modules[pname]
-            assert parent.__name__ == pname
-            return parent
-        return None
-
-    def find_head_package(self, parent, name):
-        if '.' in name:
-            i = name.find('.')
-            head = name[:i]
-            tail = name[i+1:]
-        else:
-            head = name
-            tail = ""
-        if parent:
-            qname = "%s.%s" % (parent.__name__, head)
-        else:
-            qname = head
-        q = self.import_it(head, qname, parent)
-        if q: return q, tail
-        if parent:
-            qname = head
-            parent = None
-            q = self.import_it(head, qname, parent)
-            if q: return q, tail
-        raise ImportError("No module named " + qname)
-
-    def load_tail(self, q, tail):
-        m = q
-        while tail:
-            i = tail.find('.')
-            if i < 0: i = len(tail)
-            head, tail = tail[:i], tail[i+1:]
-            mname = "%s.%s" % (m.__name__, head)
-            m = self.import_it(head, mname, m)
-            if not m:
-                raise ImportError("No module named " + mname)
-        return m
-
-    def ensure_fromlist(self, m, fromlist, recursive=0):
-        for sub in fromlist:
-            if sub == "*":
-                if not recursive:
-                    try:
-                        all = m.__all__
-                    except AttributeError:
-                        pass
-                    else:
-                        self.ensure_fromlist(m, all, 1)
-                continue
-            if sub != "*" and not hasattr(m, sub):
-                subname = "%s.%s" % (m.__name__, sub)
-                submod = self.import_it(sub, subname, m)
-                if not submod:
-                    raise ImportError("No module named " + subname)
-
-    def import_it(self, partname, fqname, parent, force_load=0):
-        if not partname:
-            raise ValueError("Empty module name")
-        if not force_load:
-            try:
-                return self.modules[fqname]
-            except KeyError:
-                pass
-        try:
-            path = parent and parent.__path__
-        except AttributeError:
-            return None
-        partname = str(partname)
-        stuff = self.loader.find_module(partname, path)
-        if not stuff:
-            return None
-        fqname = str(fqname)
-        m = self.loader.load_module(fqname, stuff)
-        if parent:
-            setattr(parent, partname, m)
-        return m
-
-    def reload(self, module):
-        name = str(module.__name__)
-        if '.' not in name:
-            return self.import_it(name, name, None, force_load=1)
-        i = name.rfind('.')
-        pname = name[:i]
-        parent = self.modules[pname]
-        return self.import_it(name[i+1:], name, parent, force_load=1)
-
-
-default_importer = None
-current_importer = None
-
-def install(importer = None):
-    global current_importer
-    current_importer = importer or default_importer or ModuleImporter()
-    current_importer.install()
-
-def uninstall():
-    global current_importer
-    current_importer.uninstall()
diff --git a/Lib/test/test_sundry.py b/Lib/test/test_sundry.py
index db7ed4e..ca6b23d 100644
--- a/Lib/test/test_sundry.py
+++ b/Lib/test/test_sundry.py
@@ -49,7 +49,6 @@
             import formatter
             import getpass
             import htmlentitydefs
-            import ihooks
             import imghdr
             import keyword
             import linecache
diff --git a/Misc/NEWS b/Misc/NEWS
index e2c165c..c4d66e0 100644
--- a/Misc/NEWS
+++ b/Misc/NEWS
@@ -21,6 +21,8 @@
 Library
 -------
 
+- The ihooks module has been removed.
+
 - The fpformat module has been removed.
 
 - The dircache module has been removed.