Run IE6, IE7, and IE8 on the Same Machine Using Windows 7 XP Mode Article
Key Takeaways
- Windows 7 XP Mode allows users to run IE6, IE7, and IE8 on the same machine without conflicts, offering a solution for testing web applications across these versions.
- To utilize this feature, users need to install Virtual PC and XP Mode, both of which are available as a free download for most versions of Windows. The installation process involves checking PC compatibility, downloading XP Mode and Virtual PC, and configuring the XP Mode for first use.
- While XP Mode is a feature of Windows 7, users of other systems can resort to third-party virtualization software like VirtualBox or VMware to emulate the experience.
Testing your lovingly crafted web application in Internet Explorer is so much harder than it should be. IE6, IE7, and IE8 all have a healthy market share, yet it’s impossible to test all three versions on a single Windows OS. There are some clever hacks and nifty software, but all are flawed and few run well on Windows Vista or 7. The most reliable testing method is to use three separate PCs.
Few of us have the room or patience to maintain three PCs, so we resort to Virtual Machine software such as VMware or VirtualBox. VM software emulates a PC (the guest) on your real PC (the host). Assuming VM software is available for your host operating system, you can run any other OS within a VM. In most cases, a VM is just a file containing a hard disk image. Therefore, VMs can be backed up, cloned, or moved far easier than a real PC.
Virtual PC is Microsoft’s alternative to VMware and VirtualBox. It’s available as a free download for most versions of Windows. As a standalone product, it’s functional but offers fewer facilities than the competition. However, XP Mode is Virtual PC’s killer feature. It provides:
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a fully licensed, stripped-down, virtual copy of Windows XP SP3.
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a clever facility which integrates the guest Windows XP OS with your Windows 7 host. In effect, you can run XP applications as if they were native Windows 7 programs. Although the XP application is isolated, it can still access the host’s files and systems.
This benefit to web developers is obvious: you can run real versions of IE6, IE7, and IE8 on the same desktop at the same time without any conflicts.
Before going any further, you should check which version of Windows you’re running:
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Windows 7 Professional, Enterprise, and Ultimate users can install Virtual PC and XP Mode.
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Windows 7 Home users can install Virtual PC, but you’ll need your own XP installation disks, and you’ll be without the benefits of XP Mode integration.
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Windows Vista and XP users can install the older Virtual PC 2007.
If your system lacks support XP Mode, I would recommend VirtualBox rather than Virtual PC. It’s free (open source), faster, and offers more facilities. Assuming you’re still here (and not off installing VirtualBox), follow the steps below to install Virtual PC and XP Mode:
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First, check your PC’s compatibility. To run XP Mode effectively, I’d recommend at least 2GB of RAM. It’ll probably work with less, but it will be more of a chore to use. XP Mode requires hardware-assisted virtualization (HAV). This is supported by most modern processors, but it may need to be enabled in your BIOS. The BIOS menu is normally accessed by pressing Del, F2, or Esc immediately after switching on your PC. Microsoft also provide a useful HAV detection tool which can help you with BIOS configuration.
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Next, download XP Mode and Virtual PC. The downloads are available from the Microsoft Virtual PC page. After selecting your Windows 7 OS version and language, you’ll be presented with two download links:
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Windows XP Mode
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Windows Virtual PC
Download and virus-scan both files before proceeding to the next step.
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You must install XP Mode first! I realize this seems a little odd, but it’s what you need to do. Once it’s complete, install Virtual PC and reboot your PC.
Your new XP VM can now be launched and configured.
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First, start XP Mode. To start XP Mode, choose > > > . You’ll be prompted, as shown in Figure 1, “XPMUser account—remember your password!”, to enter the VM file location and a password for the
XPMUseraccount—please keep the password safe!Click and you’ll be asked whether automatic updates should be enabled or disabled. I’d recommend disabling updates—you’ll have no need to automatically upgrade IE6 just yet. Click again and the XP Mode guest OS will install. After a few minutes, you’ll be presented with the fresh Windows XP screen you can see in Figure 2, “A Fresh Windows XP Desktop”.
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You should now install the latest updates, but be very careful to avoid installing IE7 or IE8! You could also remove any unnecessary Windows components, such as Games, Media Player, MSN Messenger, and so on from the Add/Remove Windows Components panel in the Add or Remove Programs control panel.
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Next, you need to configure the VM resolution. The XP Mode VM runs at an unusual 960×600 resolution with 16-bit color. Unless it’s changed, IE6 and IE7 will also run in 16-bit color mode and your subtly shaded web application will look a bit strange. Changing the resolution and color depth is a little unusual because XP Mode uses Windows Remote Desktop. From the menu, select > . This will log you off XP and you’ll need to re-enter your password. Then, follow this procedure:
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From the XP menu, click , enter
mmc, and click . -
From the console, choose > . Select from the list and click the button.
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A dialog box is displayed and
Local Computershould be listed in the Group Policy Object field. Leave as is and click , then , and finally . -
Navigate to Local Computer Policy > Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Terminal Services, then double-click the Limit Maximum Color Depth setting. Choose Enabled and set Color Depth to 24-bit, as shown in Figure 3, “Enabling 24-bit color”.
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Click several times to navigate your way out and close the console.
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Right-click on the desktop, choose ; select Settings and apply an appropriate screen resolution, such as 1024×768 in 32-bit color.
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Finally, from the menu, click > .
The color depth will reduce to 24-bit, but it’s significantly better than 16-bit.
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Once you’re done, it’s important to fully shut down the guest XP OS—click the window close button, choose Shut down, then click .
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Internet Explorer and Windows XP Mode
How can I install Internet Explorer 8 on Windows XP?
To install Internet Explorer 8 on Windows XP, first, you need to download the installer from a trusted source. Once downloaded, double-click on the installer to run it. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the installation. After the installation is complete, you may need to restart your computer for the changes to take effect.
What is Windows XP Mode and how can I use it?
Windows XP Mode is a feature of Windows 7 that allows you to run older software that was designed for Windows XP. To use it, you first need to download and install Windows XP Mode and Windows Virtual PC from the Microsoft website. Once installed, you can launch Windows XP Mode from the Start menu and install your old software as you would on a regular Windows XP system.
Can I use Internet Explorer 8 with Windows 7?
Yes, you can use Internet Explorer 8 with Windows 7. However, it’s important to note that newer versions of Internet Explorer, such as IE 11, are more secure and have better support for modern web standards. If you need to use IE 8 for compatibility reasons, consider using Windows XP Mode instead.
How can I switch between Internet Explorer versions?
Switching between Internet Explorer versions can be done using the Developer Tools. Press F12 to open the Developer Tools, then click on the “Browser Mode” menu and select the version you want to emulate. Please note that this method does not provide a perfect emulation and some features may not work as expected.
Why can’t I install Internet Explorer 8 on Windows XP?
There could be several reasons why you can’t install Internet Explorer 8 on Windows XP. One common issue is that your system does not meet the minimum requirements for IE 8. Another possible reason is that you already have a newer version of Internet Explorer installed. In this case, you would need to uninstall the newer version before installing IE 8.
How can I uninstall Internet Explorer from Windows XP?
To uninstall Internet Explorer from Windows XP, go to the Control Panel, then click on “Add or Remove Programs”. Find Internet Explorer in the list of installed programs, then click on “Remove”. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the uninstallation.
Can I use Windows XP Mode on Windows 10?
Windows XP Mode is not officially supported on Windows 10. However, you can use a third-party virtualization software like VirtualBox or VMware to run a Windows XP virtual machine on Windows 10.
Is Internet Explorer 8 still supported?
No, Internet Explorer 8 is no longer supported by Microsoft. This means that it does not receive security updates and could be vulnerable to attacks. It’s recommended to use a modern browser like Edge, Chrome, or Firefox for a safer browsing experience.
How can I improve the performance of Internet Explorer 8?
There are several ways to improve the performance of Internet Explorer 8. One method is to disable unnecessary add-ons, as these can slow down the browser. You can also clear your browsing history and cache to free up system resources.
Can I run Internet Explorer 8 on a Mac?
Running Internet Explorer 8 on a Mac is not straightforward, as it’s a Windows-only browser. However, you can use a virtual machine or a service like BrowserStack to run IE 8 on a Mac for testing purposes.
Craig is a freelance UK web consultant who built his first page for IE2.0 in 1995. Since that time he's been advocating standards, accessibility, and best-practice HTML5 techniques. He's created enterprise specifications, websites and online applications for companies and organisations including the UK Parliament, the European Parliament, the Department of Energy & Climate Change, Microsoft, and more. He's written more than 1,000 articles for SitePoint and you can find him @craigbuckler.
