downgrade ie9 to ie8 when ie9 is factory installed

[karmascenic]

I have a friend who is a doctor and he just bought an ultrabook to use at work. it is windows 7 and it came with ie9 installed from the factory. The hospital forbids ie9 ONLY ie8 is approved (not ie9, not any other browser, not firefox, not chrome, only ie8) I knew about going to installed updates to rollback to ie8 (i have done this before) but since it was installed at the factory it is not listed as an update as the machine never ever had ie8. So someone please help how do I get ie8 on this for him? Thank you in advance.

 

[roncerr]

I'm one of those who finally tried IE9 on several computers (running Vista or Windows 7). At first I was encouraged because it was possible to configure it so that it had all the functionality of IE8; in addition it worked perfectly on both Vista michines. But on Windows 7 on medium powered umpcs circa 2009, it refused to load many websites so I finally had to revert back to IE8 on those. I would expect that if the doctor's pc came with IE9 preinstalled, it may be possible to get it working perfectly, since all the UI functionality of IE8 is still there. You may try to reset IE9, use compatibility view, or turn off hardware rendering under Internet Options/Advanced. I may have more trouble shooting advice if you tell us what problem he has with IE9. It may also be possible to return it as defective.

 

[jimpz]

Hi,
It's tough when companies don't want to always use the latest, but some times the do have reasons.
Go here: Windows XP downloads - Microsoft Windows
basically Microsoft.com & look for Win XP downloads. You'll find ie8 there.

Jim

 

[karmascenic]

roncerr, jimpz Thanks for the responses. jimpz yes it makes me crazy when companies are resistant to change but I suppose they have their reasons. I tried both ie8 for xp 64 and for vista 64 and it tells me they are incompatible. there is no option for a windows 7 64 download. Any idea where i can get an ie download for windows 7? And roncerr Thanks again for your response. It is not a problem with the software or anything like that it is strictly that the hospital does not allow it. Crazy I know it just simply hasn't been approved yet. If I cant get ie 8 on there for him he won't be allowed to use it. if I could find a redistributable could I strip off ie9 and put it on? And where could one find an ie8 for win7 64 redistibutale?

 

[Outlander]

On my version of IE9 if you hit F12 a couple of times a box opens at the bottom that lets you select some sort of IE8 or 7 mode. Seems to work OK. Might get you around some silly administrative red tape?

 

[karmascenic]

Interesting outlander a developer mode of some sort I assume? I guess it may depend on how they are detecting the browser. This is for internal hospital stuff. If they physically look at the about they would see, but I wonder what version number it would give in ie8 mode. Any way not sure why I can't find an ie8 download for windows7.

 

[jimpz]

Try here: Internet Explorer - Download

Jim

 

[roncerr]

...Any way not sure why I can't find an ie8 download for windows7.

Because Microsoft is pressuring everyone to be beta testers for IE9 and using them to pressure developers to fix their sites to work with it. But that F12 (Internet Options/Tools/Developer Tools) option to downgrade to IE8 looks interesting as long as it's acceptable to the hospital "powers that be". If not, you might try the Windows Server 2008 version of IE8.
(BTW, sorry I misread your original question; thought he was being told to use IE9 since it's the current version...that's what some websites say when I visit them in IE8.)

 

[DavidE]

I don't know if there is a way to uninstall IE9 on a system where IE9 is the default built-in version.
In my experience installing an older version of a program on top of a newer (installed) version is asking for trouble.
You may create more problems by attempting to install IE8 on top of IE9.

Best case is installing IE8 works and you don't have any problems.
Next best case is the IE8 install will fail before making any changes, if the install won't work.
Worst case is the IE8 install will make changes before failing, leaving you with system problems.

What i would do before making any changes:

Create the system recovery discs using the manufacturer utility.
Create a System Backup Image using a program such as Macrium Reflect (free).
Create a restore point.
​

I make sure i have every recovery option available before attempting a change like this!

If you can't install IE8 on top of IE9, and the compatibility mode does not work you might consider this:

Find an older version of the Windows 7 ISO that has IE8 as the built-in browser.
Re-install Windows with that ISO/version.
​

My guess is you need a pre SP1 ISO...maybe the RTM version?

I don't know if/where you can get the valid/genuine ISO version with IE8 from Digital River.
If it was me, i would ask Gregrocker about the possibility of getting and installing the correct ISO with IE8.
IMHO he is the best and most experienced installation expert here.

 

[A Guy]

Welcome to Seven Forums karmascenic. Do the hospital sites not work with IE9, or is it just "forbidden"? Perhaps if your friend explains his new PC came preinstalled with IE9, and there is NO version or IE8 to download for Windows 7. This will be a problem going forward, wait until someone has Windows 8 with IE10!

If there is just a browser sniffer blocking IE9, then as mentioned, press F12 to bring up the developer tools. Select IE8 under Browser Mode.

A Guy

 

[tlarseth]

There is a way to downgrade, but it requires a lot of registry editing, and file deleting, then installing IE8, I do not know why they wouldn't allow IE9, since it is more secure than IE8, runs smoother, and even supports more features.

Most IT techs will not allow their systems to be upgraded until there is an issue with the current version and upgrading is the only solution. I have been to jobs where they were still using IE6, and didn't know why they couldn't load any webpages without issues. I upgraded them to IE9, and their system is running smoothly.

 

[A Guy]

The problem is, even with this registry editing you mention, where do you get an IE8 download for Windows 7? It doesn't appear to exist. You might try the IE collection. It's a stand alone collection of many versions of IE. You could choose to just install IE8.

http://www.addictivetips.com/window...ltaneously-with-internet-explorer-collection/

Also, if your friends OS version is Professional, Ultimate, or Enterprise, he could also run XP mode, and Windows 8 from there.

A Guy

 

[tlarseth]

The problem is, even with this registry editing you mention, where do you get an IE8 download for Windows 7? It doesn't appear to exist. You might try the IE collection. It's a stand alone collection of many versions of IE. You could choose to just install IE8.

Run Multiple Versions Of IE Simultaneously With Internet Explorer Collection

Also, if your friends OS version is Professional, Ultimate, or Enterprise, he could also run XP mode, and Windows 8 from there.

A Guy

I was thinking of XP my bad, I remember doing this with my XP machine when I needed to test something on an older browser.

The IECollection is nice though, will have to remember that one it makes life a bit simpler.

 

[Invader440]

Just a thought but wonder if he could get by with using user agent switcher.

 

[tlarseth]

I wonder how they would know if he is using IE9 instead of IE8, most IT people I know if the computer is yours, they only provide limited support, especially if you are using software like browsers that they don't support?

The only thing I can think of is they pass all internet traffic through a passthrough filter site placeholder that checks your browser version, but that would bog down their servers, and the browser version can be easily faked anyways. Some jobs I go to only allow IE9, but I use Chrome, so I have a program on my laptop that tells any browsers that ask what browser version is being used, and it intercepts the request and reports IE9.