fininno.blog

I recently began using windows Vista which comes pre loaded with Internet Explorer 7. As most web developers know, to produce a quality site that works on all current browsers you need to test on multiple versions of Internet Explorer. On XP you could use standalone versions of of older IE versions (including IE6 and down) along side of IE7. However, the standalone installations of IE do not work on Vista. I did find a solution but it is a bit more involved.

First off, if you are running XP and want the easy to install standalone versions of IE, check them out at evolt.

A solution:

The team at IE Blog have generously provided a hard disk image of a windows XP installation (with IE 6) which you can use.

1. First download and install Microsoft virtual PC (its free)
2. Next, head over to IEBlog and get the image here. The file is a whopping 450mb, so put your feet up and wait. If your on dial-up, give up.
3. Run virtual PC and set up a new machine (the process is pretty self explanatory). Use the XP image you just downloaded.
4. Run the system, you now have access to IE 6

Thats IE6 out of the way, what about the rest?

• IE7 - Your on vista, so you have it!
• IE6 - On your virtual PC
• IE5/IE5.5 - Copy the standalone version (found at evolt) to your virtual PC (drag and drop, easy!)
• Fix conditional comments on the virtual machine, by going start > run and typing regedit. Find HKLMSOFTWAREMicrosoftInternet ExplorerVersion Vector and rename the ‘IE’ key to ‘zIE’. Conditional comments will now function in the standalone versions.

Like I said, not the easiest, but it works!

~Billy Flaherty
Website Developer
www.billyswebdesign.com