Should I upgrade to Internet Explorer 7 or 8?

Many of the problems folks are having with IE 8 are because they didn't install it right to begin with, or picked to many services. The later will slow you down unless you have a dual/mult-core or lots of RAM(or both).

Internet Explorer 8 is VERY finicky about what is running during the intallation. If you use hostfiles or BHOs, and tool bars these will have to be disabled or uninstalled to make sure the installation goes smoothly and correctly.

I have many clients running on machines less capable than the machine listed in the question, and they report very good performance, on par with FireFox. Here is my general install suggestion:

1. If you use Spyware Blaster(and you should), disable all protections first.

2. It would probably be a good idea to uninstall all add-ons and toolbars - you can add them back later.

3. You might be able to get away with simply using MSCONFIG run command and disable all anti-virus/anti-malware, and unnecessary services. The easiest way is to look on the general tab and pick selective startup and deselect loading start up items and system services. You can re-enable everything after you are done installing IE8.

4. Be carefull and use the customization option when doing the install; don't just take the express route unless you own a super computer with a lot of power(Vista x64). Don't select too many services that do a lot of communicating with the outside world, and save only the accelerators that you already have onboard. You can always try the accelerators later - one at a time - to make sure they don't slow you down. Much easier that way.

5. If you use Comodo Firewall(and you should) DO NOT RE-ENABLE Defense +!!! You will not be able to boot normally if you do. They have a new version, now that may have fixed this, but quite frankly I think the security features of IE8 practically make this formerly good real-time protection obsolete! If you can get it to work with the new version, however, I would still recommend using it. I haven't had the time to test it on my own laptop yet.

I feel IE 8 is worth the trouble just for the security alone, but you will also like how it makes web-pages load using an HDTV monitor. Any 16:9 ratio monitor will look absolutely fantastic with this new version! My hotmail email service finnally works the way I want it to with IE8 - disability controls work better too - Zoomed web-pages finally display properly now!

Web-page compatibility will not be a problem at all, if you install correctly, if you suspect something is wrong with the page, look up near the refresh control on the right of the address bar and you will see a torn page symbol for non-compliant pages. Clicking on this button invariably solves all problems with compatibility, in fact I think this is called the "compatibility mode" button, if I remember correctly.

I rarely need to click on it though, as most pages seem to load correctly even before I need to use anything like that. Usually I only need it to get login or SSL objects to work properly. If I'm not mistaken IE8 remembers or can be configured to remember that favorite page setting automatically from then on. I've never had to set it though.

I hope this clears things up for a lot of folks because it would be a shame not to take advantage of a lot of the new security enhancements and reliablilty functions on the new browser. I get far fewer page lockups, and crashes than I ever have with it, and if you do get one, only the tab or page that is having the problem crashes not the whole session, like before.

Infact IE8 asks you if you want to restore the original session after it cleans up whatever problem that caused it in the first place!!!

My clients for whatever reason refuse to use FireFox with no-script and with a good blended defense they haven't had to! To each his own, I always say. I must admit though, untill Microsoft gets this cross-scripting vulnerability patched, I'm going with FireFox in the mean time, with no-script fully deployed!!

JCitizen:

I'd like to commend you for making such a thoughtful post which addresses an issue which must be frustrating for so many users. However, the underlying issue is best described between the lines of your post---IE 8 was clearly released before it was ready.

I found myself frustrated by IE 8 after allowing the Windows update, when trying to access a website critical to my job. Luckily I was able to uninstall IE 8 and go back to IE 7.

No product designed for successful consumer use should require the jumping-through-hoops that you described in your post. Are technically savvy folks like us supposed to make house calls to our parents, aunts & uncles, grandparents, etc. every time Microsoft tries to rip off a real innovator like Mozilla? I love my family, and I like to visit them, but on my terms and not Microsoft's.

Thanks again for your thoughtful contribution, I just wish it wasn't necessary.

BLL

and MS did the public a great dis-service with this release! I really wonder, though, if they just want to make XP as inconvenient as they can to push people into buying Vista or the Win 7 preview.

They just don't seem to get that this tactic makes folks LESS willing to go with Microsoft, and even MORE willing to try at least a used Apple computer, or new Linux distro.

With Google coming out with their own cloud OS, this will tempt the simple standard users to jump ship even faster!

On my Vista x64 system all I did was disable SpywareBlaster and I completely forgot to disable Norton's BHO and other tools, but it installed like a dream!

Makes you wonder, doesn't it?

I just installed it and it is faster, cleaner, generally a lot more stable and loaded with great plug-ins that really work. It is also much more configuable the I.E. 6.

I'm running it on a Fujitsu laptop running XP Media Edition on an Intel Centrino duo.

My opinion - its about time Microsoft fixed I.E.

LS

upgrade to internetexplorer 7 do not upgrade to internet ex 8 it will mess up your computer because it is only a beta test.

A lot of folks have SP3 installed on top of IE7 and this is the problem! You are actually correct in that they need to downgrade before they can upgrade!

IF you put SP3 on top of IE7; you cannot upgrade the browser - you must uninstall SP3 and IE7, then reinstall SP3 and THEN install IE8 to do a proper upgrade.

If SP3 is not your problem, then follow my suggestions near the first post in this discussion, to get IE8 to install properly.

Microsoft blew it again, they just refuse to communicate with the pubic!!

Actually I had my system auto-update to sp3 some time back. And a few days ago I auto-upgraded to IE8 without a hitch.

And on top of it all, IE8 in my opinion is the best thing that ever happened to Microsoft in a long time.

But everyone of my clients did. They ALL like using AV/AS security utilities and their is always some BHO, Plugin, toolbar, or something like that getting in the way.

I really like IE 8 and am sad that I can't use it now on my Vista x64 system because of a cross-scripting vulnerability with that OS right now. I just can't take chances with my personal ID and credit cards.

So plod along with FF running on NoScript and AdBlock Plus for now.

I am the guy who has so far had a great browser experince using I.E. 8. If you didn't notice it, during installation you can choose to be downward compatible or not. I believe if you do all it will cost you is some speed.

L.S.

Title ("Bad move. Really, really, really bad move.") says it all.

You are putting yourself at EXTREME risk of being a victim of identity theft.

Upgrade to IE 7; IE 8 is more discretionary.

I am sick of all Microsoft browsing products. If you want a blazingly fast browser with all the trimmings use Apple'e "Safari" which beats the socks off all the others

Not only are you putting yourself at a huge risk with IE6, you (and anyone else who has IE6 installed) are causing huge problems for web developers. IE6 is a terrible browser when it comes to web standards (and anything else, really) and is probably the single most hated browser web developers have to deal with. If nothing else, do them a favor and upgrade to IE7 or 8.

Please, for the sake of the internet, upgrade to 7 or 8. Even better choice, use Firefox. Us developers have to spend time trying to adjust their sites to be usable in IE6 than making more useful and interesting things for end users. You are holding the internet back.

As a developer I'd like to back up cmsb1214's post and say, I hate you for using IE6. When we develop websites us much as half of our time is spent adding nasty workarounds into web code to make them work with IE6 because it only obeys around 17% of web standards. The longer you use IE6 the longer you are prolonging our pain and costing companies money because they have to waste time and resources on these IE6 fixes.

Please, do everyone a favour and switch to a browser that is standards compliant. (FYI IE7 is not much better as it still only obeys less than 60% of web standards)

Quote: "As a developer I'd like to back up cmsb1214's post and say, I hate you for using IE6....... Please, do everyone a favour and switch to a browser that is standards compliant. (FYI IE7 is not much better as it still only obeys less than 60% of web standards)"

While you are likely a whiz on computers, your math skills could use some work..... 60% is substantially more than 17%. Just a thought...

I'll stick with IE6 until there is no support for it; at that point, then I can hate you

Till then, I find IE7 and IE 8 bothersome.

Why not always use Safari?
As I said before:
Please, for the sake of the internet, upgrade to 7 or 8 or just always use Safari/Firefox/Chrome. Us web developers have to spend time trying to adjust their sites to be usable in IE6 than making more useful and interesting things for end users. You are holding the internet back.

After doing the RC version of Win7 which included IE8, I added FireFox 3.5 in the pot and came up with the winner:

FireFox wins hands down.

In my XP laptop,I still use IE6 and won't upgrade to either 7 nor 8. Even 6 beings to show problems that 7 and 8 continues with. But, unforunately some sites are not recommending the browser upgrade to function better.

Go either FireFox 3.5, or head to Google Chrome.

There is a large debate on if you should upgrade to IE7 or IE8, but I suggest neither. If you are going to pick a browser you should pick Mozilla Firefox. It runs well and if you want a fast, safe browser Firefox is very much for you. If you are thinking neither of those don't go with Safari, go with Google Chrome. Safari is a cheap ripoff of Mozilla Firefox. Apple tries to make it look advanced by putting up a 3-D start up page,but it runs slower than Firefox and with some pages IE7 and IE8. I have not tried Google Chrome,but I've heard that Firefox is better. If you are playing browser based games, running media in your browser, or you just want safe downloading, and web surfing, Mozilla Firefox is best for you.

I don't use MS browsers for anything and have not since around 2003 when the 1st beta of FireFox came out. Security is the prime reason, but also I'm so sick of looking at "MS Gray" for everything. While it may seem insignificant, the ability to change Themes, (or Skins if you prefer), in FireFox has been an attractive selling point. There are hundreds of other add-ons and extensions that make FireFox very customizable.
Add this to an already secure browser and you have, IMO the best browser package.

I would suggest that everyone give the Google Chrome browser a try. It loads MUCH faster and is well on its way to being the browser of choice for PC users.

You need at least a 1.5 to 2 Ghz processor and one Gb of RAM to even consider using IE8.

My old 750 Mhz DELL with 786Mbs of RAM(maxed out) cannot even begin to run IE8. I had to "downgrade" back to IE7 on that one.

The reason why you are having the problems is because all your updates and service packs are not completely installed. IE 8 should not give you any problems at all if everything is installed properly.

I have a BRAND NEW PC & when I load 8, everything mess's up! It slows down my computer & takes ForEver to load a page! I don't think they have it right yet, so I'm gonna stick to my, perfectly working, IE7! At least untill they work the bugs outta #8! I have also heard a lot of other users that have trouble with 8 too! I have noticed several of my collegues have had trouble with 8 too!