Windows 7: Work says must run IE7

So my work has new database for all customer infomations, they just recently updated their system and now we have brand new software, and the problem is that they say it will only work on IE7. My desktop which i built, runs virtual XP, so i run IE7 on that. But now my laptop is wiped out, and i have Windows 7 on it, i refuse to run Vista on it anymore because it runs horrible. Anayways I have read that theres no way to downgrade to IE7 in Windows 7. I have tried Firefox the latest one, and installed the IEtab plugin. and its not working....

Any suggestions?

Thanks

Hi there

Try using a Virtual machine with XP on it again.

For Virtual software use VMWARE workstation (Pay) Vmware server - really good and free but slightly more complex to set up, vbox (freea) or MS Virtual PC also free).

You CAN'T use Windows 7's XP mode here as the browser will be IE8 since the windows xp system is already pre-installed but you CAN run guest VM's using different software - as I've listed above.

The VM seems to me a great idea -- XP will run quite snappily as a 512KB VM if all you need is IE7 and to access a corporate DB. Means also you can run Windows 7 X-64 for all your other stuff.

Sharing disks and data files between the host (Windows 7) and your guests (XP) is straight forward.

Incidentally (just my observation) but it seems your IT dept is feeding you a good dose of "Bovine Scatology" here as I can't think of ANY DB system or application that NEEDS IE7 specifically for it to work. If you can access something with IE7, IE8 will work for sure (although there ARE issues with Windows 7 and IE8 - but that's another topic).

I rather suspect it's probably some stupid management - probably non-technical - saying "Its company Policy" (decided by whom - for whom - and when ??? is what I always ask when given this totally bovine excuse) or we don't want to have different software on our desktops - probably slightly more reasonable excuse.

Finally -- I (and others) have repeated this AD NAUSEAM

... ALWAYS BACKUP YOUR SYSTEM.

It doesn't take long and it will get over those problems like "computer getting wiped".

Imagine you have the equivalent of 10,000 CD's of music stored on HD's and the HD's go bad / get stolen / get destroyed via flood / fire / spilt coffee etc or just get lost.

Probably impossible to replace your music - especially if it was downloaded. If you still have the CD's just think of the time it takes to re-rip those again.

Cheers
jimbo

Or try running in Compatibility View.