Windows 7: Internet Explorer or Internet Explorer 64-bit??

Hi,

I am still a Windows 7 Pro 64-bit newbie and everyday I find something new.

This morning while nosing around Programs I saw I had two different entries for Internet Explorer. One was (a) Internet Explorer and the other (b) Internet Explorer 64-bit.

Since I am using a 64-bit system should I be using the 64-bit program. Now when I click on the Internet Explorer Icon to open my browser I notice it is the regular IE.

Which one should I be using for the shortrcut to Internet Explorer?

Thanks and regards,

2harts4ever

I am a newbie and had some problems with 64bit compatibility when downloading some necessary programmes as they had not yet released a 64bit version. Answer was that IE (a) is 32bit and compatible. As I said, I'm a novice but this worked for me.

Hi winnie1st,

Thanks for the response. I am just trying to find out if it would be best for me to use the 32-bit or 64-bit version and what would be the advantage or disadvantage of using either one??

Thanks and regards,

2harts4ever

As I said, the 32bit IE covers all and eliminates any problems you may come across when downloading some programmes. But check it out.

I've been using 64bit firefox for a long while now and no issues except for some streaming sites like Netflix or veetle. Other than that it's been fine. You should be fine and if you need to do something that's not compatible with 64 bit browswer just fire up the 32bit version.

I'm going to post here instead of starting a new thread.

I know how to make Internet Explorer the default browser. In fact it is the default browser. But I want IE x64 to be the default and I don't know how to do that.

The 32 bit version is screwed up on my system (pages fail to load in new tabs, pop-ups won't work, etc..) and I'd like to make the x64 version the default for links in emails, etc...

Thanks for any tips.

Internet options->Progrmas tab it should be at the top.

Thank you.

Looks like IE x64 cannot be the default browser. How stupid is that?


EDIT: I had been keeping a 64 bit version open in the background so that any email links I clicked on would open in a new tab in the x64 version. Worked like a charm until today. Now every link I open through Outlook opens a new 32 bit window, even with the x64 IE running. Odd.

It's not stupid at all. IE 64bit doesn't have the support for add-ons / controls that IE 32bit does, it doesn't have shell hooks to catch certain COM calls like IE 32bit does, and it doesn't use the javascript performance enhancements that 32bit does. Unless you need more than 2GB of virtual address space to browse, I see no reason to use the 64bit browser and take the compatibility and performance hit.

I've been using IE x64 for months and rarely run into a problem.

I can see the logic behind making it impossoble to run x64 as the default for most end-users, but as a tech I'd like the choice.

As for why I want x64 to be my default - I frequently get emails with links in them that I need to clock. I also use websites that require functioning javascript pup-ups. IE x86 broke on my computer. All pop-ups don't work and opening links in new tabs spawns a blank tab with no page in it.