Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with WindowsXP and InternetExplorer

Multiple versions of IE

kidbritish — Sun, 03 May 2009 10:29:57 -0800

In Windows XP, what is the best way to keep Internet Explorer versions 6, 7, and 8 all installed simultaneously? This is for the purpose of testing websites.
When I say "best", I mean the browsers should function normally, and it should be unlikely to cause other problems with the system.
I've seen Multiple-IE, from 2006, which doesn't seem to go past IE6, and Internet Explorer Collection which looks promising. But I'm hesitant to install strange hacks until I've had some input from people more knowledgeable. Do any of you have experience doing this?

Do I need to upgrade to IE7/8 if I don't browse with IE?

ravcasleygera — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 05:29:26 -0800

I just reformatted an XP laptop and installed Service Pack 3. I don't use Internet Explorer for browsing - do I need to upgrade to IE7/8 anyway, just for in-built security? Or can I safely leave it at 6 if I don't use it to browse? Apologies if this question seems really, really dumb.

Help opening links from Outlook 2003

garypratt — Thu, 28 Jul 2005 11:15:09 -0800

I am having a problem with Outlook 2003. If I click on a hyperlink in an email message, a new internet explorer window is created instead of using the currently open internet explorer window. How can I change this? I just bought a new computer with Windows XP, Outlook 2003 and Internet Explorer 6.0.2. My old computer had WindowsME. I have searched Microsoft KB and Google with no luck. Thanks!

Windows XP crashing

grumblebee — Tue, 21 Dec 2004 06:31:35 -0800

Win XP Problem: Windows Explorer (and My Computer) keep crashing. If I bring either up, it crashes immediately (the computer doesn't crash). Around the same time, I noticed I'd acquired some spyware. So I ran Ad-aware, and it seemed to get rid of the bad stuff. But Explorer still crashes. I ran Norton Anti-Virus, which claimed it found viruses but couldn't fix them because I needed to adjust the properties of some of the Norton files. But I can't adjust these properties, because I can't get to the files (because Explorer crashes). Help.

Default Browsers in XP Pro

Blue Stone — Thu, 17 Jun 2004 17:12:32 -0800

So I installed XP Pro - and I want to set Mozilla as my default browser instead of IE (because, well ... duh) - but Evil Bill's software won't play nice. Oh no. What am I to do AskMe, what am I to do? [furthered within] After finally figuring out I had to allow Generic Host process for Win32 Services access to the internet through Zone Alarm, I thought my new OS woes were o'er, and the plague-filled Intarweb would be mine once more, and they were, until I snubbed Bill's baby for the lizard.

When I set Mozilla as default I can no longer access my ADSL modem via either Mozilla or IE, through the shortcut on my desktop or by manually typing its address into the address bar. I get a connection refused error from Mozilla and a similar fail to connect page from IE.

To get it all working again, I have to re-set IE to be the default browser and then re-install the modem's drivers - and then both IE and Mozilla can access the modem again.

Forced to use Internet Explorer as my default browser? This will not do!