Problem 1 - How to download IE8 for Windows 7

Friend is having 2 relatively minor problems with his 64 bit Windows 7 Home Premium laptop.

The first is that he was not able to access Windows Mail using IE9 which came preinstalled. I assumed it was a https problem, because the site is a secure one, but I was able to access other https sites with no problem. I did the whole reset IE without any change.

Then I downloaded Firefox, and was easily able to get to his Live Mail. So I figured the problem was IE9, which I dislike (MS is getting like WalMart - moving things like Favorites and History from one place to another. And who thought it was a good idea to use the address to search?).

I rather assumed that although IE9 came preinstalled, IE8 would pop up once I removed it. WRONG. It eliminated Internet Explorer from the taskbar, and rendered the executable unworkable. So I re-checkmarked IE9 and it was at least available, although the problem with Windows Mail remained.

Then I went to the MS site to get IE8. It is no longer available from them for Windows 7. Google searches brought up other sites, all of which eventually led me back to the original MS page.

Solutions? Do you think the Windows Live mail problem is IE9 related? Is there an easy way to get IE8 for Win7?

Second problem in another thread.

kegobeer said:

Does he get an error message when trying to access his Live/Hotmail?

No. The page seems to open - it has the proper address at the top, but the page is blank. And there is no indication of the page continuing to load - no blue rotating circle. And AIAS it opens perfectly using Firefox - he just happens to not like Firefox very much.

Britton30 said:

Try this Download Internet Explorer 8 - Microsoft Windows and download the one for Vista 64 bit and see if it will work.

I'll try that tomorrow - I'm not at his house right now. Does anyone else know if the 64 bit Vista version will work? And aren't there some website compatiblity problems with 64 bit browsers? I know people that have discontinued use of the 64 bit IE and are only using the 32 bit version because of some problems - sorry, I can't be more specific.

HammerHead said:

This is probably too easy but if you haven't tried it give it a whirl.

When the blank page comes up that you speak of go to the address bar and click the broken sheet (for compatability). It may load correctly. You may have already tried this.

You are correct sir. I tried it. It didn't work, and I didn't add have that bit of info in my original post. Sorry for the omission.

You should always use the latest browser version with full updates to be secure. An older browser version is an attack waiting to happen.

Try it again when you re-enable IE9, then go into Internet Options>Advanced to Reset to Defaults which solves a lot of problems. What I'd do if it persists is bail to Firefox (which I did a long time back) or keep googling the issue until I solve it since it likely has affected others who have left a search trail. Almost everything has.

gregrocker said:

You should always use the latest browser version with full updates to be secure. An older browser version is an attack waiting to happen.

Try it again when you re-enable IE9, then go into Internet Options>Advanced to Reset to Defaults which solves a lot of problems. What I'd do if it persists is bail to Firefox (which I did a long time back) or keep googling the issue until I solve it since it likely has affected others who have left a search trail. Almost everything has.

I did re-enable IE9 before I left his house. I will try the reset of the advanced options tomorrow. And yeah, I can't believe that Google has not turned up a single other person with the exact same problem. Maybe his IE9 is just corrupt and it came that way. I'm thinking about saving all his favorites, totally deleting IE9 and reinstalling. That's, of course, if the restore of the Advanced Settings don't do squat.