Run IE6, IE7, and IE8 on the Same Machine Using Windows 7 XP Mode

**ceeb** · Nov 12, 2009, 01:02

Originally Posted by logic_earth

And here I uploaded proof.

Brilliant! OK, so it's a little more tricky than the standard XP Mode, but it proves it can be done on Windows 7 Home.

If you don't mind, I'll post a new article about your solution and give you the credit.

**ceeb** · Nov 12, 2009, 01:09

Originally Posted by hollyw0od

Has anyone tried Internet Explorer Collection?

I tried it on Vista and most of the browsers failed dismally. XP is probably better, but all these solutions rely on hacks that cause problems, e.g. filters fail or the wrong version of JavaScript is used.

A totally separate IE installation in a VM or on another machine is the only real alternative.

**AlexDawson** · Nov 12, 2009, 04:08

ceeb Sorry but that's mostly wrong, I've done extensive testing on a lot of the various different solutions and while the Multiple-IE or IECollection packs do suffer those problems, IETester, Microsoft SuperPreview, Adobe BrowserLabs and the Spoon "browser kit's" work perfectly as a sandboxed environment. I have been using a mixture of those for a while now and have yet to come across a single instance where the rendering (JavaScript or otherwise) is differential to the actual Virtual Machine environment... and I can say this because I've tested side-by-side against the VM for IETester and Spoon's installers. The information you have is highly inaccurate and based on the false information that has been floating around the web, it took a heavy debate earlier in the year just to convince some people that IETester used the correct version of JScript for each IE version (I ended up using resource hacker a hex editor and some decompiling to prove that the application did reference the correct independent files). I have also not had any issues with filters, hacks or conditional comments on those mentioned either.

PS: I'm not associated with any of those brands

**Stormrider** · Nov 12, 2009, 04:48

IETester is one of the most buggy programs I've used. Many of the other solutions just show you screenshots, they aren't a fully functioning browser, some won't let you use flash / javascript / png fixes etc. I have PLENTY of experience with the results of these various programs being different to the real browsers.

**ceeb** · Nov 12, 2009, 09:58

I agree with StormRider. The main problems I've encountered with every non-VM'd solution is that the IE5.5/6 24-bit PNG filter fails. In addition, the transparency effect filter is ignored so I suspect most other filters won't work either.

It's not just IETester. If you install then uninstall IE7, IE6 filters will fail (unless MS have fixed that recently). To fix it, you need to copy old versions of dxtrans.dll and dxtmsft.dll back to your IE6 installation folder.

IE was never designed to work alongside other versions. None of the sandboxed solutions is ever truly the same as a real installation -- rely on them at your own risk!

**AlexDawson** · Nov 12, 2009, 10:38

Well as I said, I always use them in co-ordination with a VM environment, I'm not saying their fully dependable however if your testing your website for general faults their a very good indicator to whether something is going to "snag" in IE6. My general rule of thumb is use IETester for the early stage testing (as it uses very little resources and is just sitting on the taskbar waiting to be used), then before you move it to production you run it past the virtualized environments to double check. I feel that using VM to test at each stage of the design (which is what I do rather than just testing and fixing at the end - mostly because I am a UX designer and pretty anal about fundamental flaws

) has benefits as jumping between the desktop and a VM feels a lot like swatting a gnat with a nuclear warhead.

PS: Strangely I've never had the PNG transparency issue in IETester, it shows it as it does in the VM in each version, no idea why yours would be any different.

**ceeb** · Nov 12, 2009, 12:50

I've used IETester on Vista and 7. It may be more reliable (and stable) on XP, especially if IE6 is the default IE browser.

Even so, XP Mode makes starting a real IE6 or IE7 just as easy as starting IETester!

**Stormrider** · Nov 12, 2009, 17:49

I used it on XP and one of the versions (6 I think, probably the most important on there) didn't work at all - if you opened an IE6 tab it just crashed the whole thing. I've had that happen on a couple of machines.

**okparrothead** · Nov 13, 2009, 08:07

I don't have 7 but I do have "IE Collection" from finalbuilds.edskes.net on XP.

This seems to be a solution for all those pesky stylesheet hacks we have to deal with.

I only hope IE Collection works on 7 when I upgrade. I'll be skipping Vista.

**RickFinney** · Nov 15, 2009, 11:57

I haven't tried it yet. Though I'm sure after reading your responses I'll be able to do it successfully. LOL.

**CMIWebStudio** · Nov 15, 2009, 15:22

If xp mode (to test websites in other browsers) is really the only reason your purchased windows 7, then you spent too much and didn't need to upgrade. A simple, and free, application called IE Tester (google it) allows you to view your website in all versions of IE (at the same time as well).

**ceeb** · Nov 16, 2009, 02:39

Windows 7 is likely to have the same compatibility as Vista. Some of the IE Collection browsers work, but many don't and those that do have problems. IETester is possibly more reliable for quick and dirty testing, but VMs/XP Mode is the most reliable method.

**CMIWebStudio** · Nov 16, 2009, 12:22

Originally Posted by ceeb

IE Tester is excellent, but it's not without problems. For example, 24-bit PNG and transparency filters will fail in IE5.5/IE6 mode. It's also a little unstable and crashes quite frequently.

They are suppose to fail... those browsers don't support PNGs. The only way to get those browsers to display PNGs correctly is using javascript hacks.

**logic_earth** · Nov 16, 2009, 13:47

Originally Posted by CMIWebStudio

They are suppose to fail... those browsers don't support PNGs. The only way to get those browsers to display PNGs correctly is using javascript hacks.

Right but he said "filters" do not work which is what the hacks use to get them to work.

**ceeb** · Nov 17, 2009, 02:37

IE5.5/6 can load 24-bit alpha-transparent PNGs using filters, e.g. JavaScript code such as:

Code:

DOMelement.style.filter="progid:DXImageTransform.Microsoft.AlphaImageLoader(src='myimage.png', sizingMethod='crop')";

It works fine in a real installation of IE6, but fails in IETester, IE Collection, and all the other 'hacked' IEs I've tried. It also fails if you install then uninstall IE7.

That's a minor example, but it shows that IETester and similar applications cannot be relied on in all situations.

**nightwatchman** · Nov 17, 2009, 18:55

Whoaaaaaa, too many words. Can you say it again in pictures, I'm a Mac user!

**michaelis** · Nov 18, 2009, 02:02

Windows 7 is very good OS i have used. It is compatible for all software and the IE6, 7, 8 are very good compared to firefox. you can do it natively in XP, without installing any other support like add-ons and settings.

**awasson** · Nov 19, 2009, 00:07

Originally Posted by logic_earth

I what to get this corrected...but the whole wrong idea is spreading across the web. XP Mode is available to all who can install Windows Virtual PC! Even Home Premium. It should not even be called XP Mode instead maybe Seamless Integration because it works for VM guest running Windows XP, Windows Vista, and Windows 7. It is added to the VM guest when you install the Virtual Addons. The only thing with Professional and Ultimate is the free copy of a Windows XP license. But Home Premium is not locked out of the Seamless Integration as long as you have your own copy of Windows XP (or other).

True enough. You don't need Windows 7 to have multiple copies of IE for testing.

I've been using Virtual PC 2007 on XP Pro SP3 for quite some time; maybe a year and a half... I don't think it's supposed to work on XP Home but it will. I had it running on an XP Home machine before I put it on my main workstation. I'm using it to test IE6 & IE7 and I even used it to beta test IE8. I even installed Windows Server 2003 on Windows XP and did a bunch of Sharepoint development with it.

I can't imagine an easier way to test IE than by using Virtual PC 2007.

* Fun fact... You can install multiple copies of the parent XP distro and it will activate so you don't have to worry about the 15 Day activation issue.

**Waldo120** · Nov 21, 2009, 10:37

That's awsome. I've been trying to get my wife (a graphic designer) to get use to VMWare for a long time not to mention the huge amount of space it takes up having 2 full VM's. Maybe now she'll be convinced to let me put win 7 on her laptop.

Anyway, to my gripe. Everything went well, but after starting IE6 or IE7 and then closing it, the virtual machine was left running. Isn't there some way to make it hibernate or shutdown the virtual machine once the program is closed?

**Waldo120** · Nov 21, 2009, 10:56

Another note, you may want to change the computer name (Control Panel - System - Computer Name) on each system as well.

**bmagnu5775** · Nov 21, 2009, 13:06

I followed you up until the multiple VM's part. When I shut down IE 6 machine, when it loaded back up it said my password was wrong. But I know that's not the case. What else could I be doing wrong?

Thanks

**Waldo120** · Nov 23, 2009, 21:22

I noticed that when you close a window of an app, it leaves the VM running. Isn't there some way to say that when the app(s) are closed to shutdown or hibernate the VM's?

Also, I tried sharing a VM under my user name and my wifes user name. Seemed to get some odd errors on the VM when I ran it under one user, shut it down, and started it as another user (like windows had to revert to an old registry backup). Anyone know how to succesfully share a VM between users? Any idea why this happens? Do I need to use the same VM config file as well? Is it that I had two config files pointing to the same VHD?

**ceeb** · Nov 24, 2009, 06:14

Originally Posted by Waldo120

I noticed that when you close a window of an app, it leaves the VM running. Isn't there some way to say that when the app(s) are closed to shutdown or hibernate the VM's?

It appears hibernate automatically if you don't re-open IE for a few minutes.

**Waldo120** · Nov 24, 2009, 21:32

ah so it does. Guess it didn't happen fast enough for me and my right now generation ;P.

Thanks.

Anyone know how to properly share a VM?

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