Background

The manager of our QA group got a bug assigned to her.

The bug states that “a user is having problems specific to Internet Explorer Version 8“.  And, that we should see if we can reproduce.

 

Environment

Our corporate OS version is MS Windows 7.

And, the IE version is v11.

 

Running Internet Explorer v8

There are some options to run IE per version 8.

We will choose the option to set up a Virtual Environment and run the IE v8 Image.

 

Virtual Environment

There are a couple of Virtual Run time environment, we will go with the MS Windows Virtual PC Platform.

Window Virtual PC

What is needed?

Here is what is needed to run IE in Windows Virtual PC:

• Microsoft
  • Windows Virtual Machine runtime environment
  • IE8 VPC Image

Window Virtual PC – Environment

Download

To get Microsoft Windows Virtual PC we sojourn here.

Depending on our bitness we can choose the x86 or x64.

Our OS is 64 bit and so we chose that file.

Install

ScreenShots

Windows Update Standalone Installer

License Terms

The updates are being installed ( Beginning )

The updates are being installed ( Proceeding)

Installation Complete

Restart Machine

Please restart the machine.

Internet Explorer – v8 – VPC Image

Download

Internet Explorer Application Compatibility VPC Image

To get an Internet Explorer v8 VPC Image we go here.

Choose the download you want

To run IE8 on MS Windows 7, we need the following four files:

1. Windows_7_IE8.part01.exe
2. Windows_7_IE8.part02.rar
3. Windows_7_IE8.part03.rar
4. Windows_7_IE8.part04.rar

Build VPC Image

Initiate

Please initiate Windows_7_IE8.part01.exe

 

License Agreement

WinRAR Self-extracting archive

 

Resultant Files

The Self extraction results in two files:

1. Win7_IE8.vhd ( Virtual Machine Hard Drive Image )
2. Win7_IE8.vmc  ( Virtual Machine Settings File )

 

Configure Virtual Environment

Run Win7_IE8

Doubleclick Win7_IE8.vmc

 

Application

The Win7_IE8 environment runs in an Application Window.

 

Configuration

Before accessing the Windows 7 Enterprise environment, let us perform some pre-configuration

Configuration

Click on the menu item – Tools/Settings

Configuration – Networking – Pre Changes

Here is what the initial screen looks like

Configuration – Networking – Changes

We are OK with the default of one Network Adapter.

And, for Adapter 1, we choose our Network Adapter; which in our case is “Intel(R) 8258DM Gigabit Network Connection“.

Please press OK to submit your changes.

Configuration – Reboot

Please reboot Virtual PC to effect the Networking changes.

 

Configuration – Restart

 

Use Virtual Image

Authenticate User

Here are the valid accounts and corresponding password

1. Administrator/Password1
2. IEUser/Password1

 

Windows Activation

Activate Windows now

Please choose “Ask me later”

Activate Windows – It is important to use genuine Microsoft Software

 

Please click the “OK” button

Desktop

Here is our new OS Screen

 

Launch IE8

Click the IE button

 

Version

Access About IE

Confirm our IE Version# by accessing the “About Internet Explorer” option

About Internet Explorer

Shutdown

To conserve your Host system resources, please shutdown your virtual environment when not in use.

Summary

With freely available software, Windows Virtual PC and the corresponding IE 8 VPC Image, we can create a Windows 7 / IE8 environment.