Release Notes for Internet Explorer 8

Unless otherwise noted, all issues listed below apply to Internet Explorer 8 on every supported operating system.

Installation

System Requirements

To confirm that your computer can run Internet Explorer 8, check the system requirements prior to installation: http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=111417

Known Installation Issues

Problems when upgrading to Internet Explorer 8 from Internet Explorer 7

If you receive a message that all add-ons are disabled every time you start Internet Explorer, follow these steps to help correct the problem:

In Internet Explorer, click Tools, and then click Internet Options.
Click the Advanced tab, and then click Reset. Follow any on-screen directions.
Close and re-open Internet Explorer.

If Internet Explorer 8 flashes and closes immediately when you try to start it, there might be some settings in Internet Explorer 7 that were not working correctly. Follow these steps to help correct the problem:

Uninstall Internet Explorer 8. (see below for more information)
Restart your computer, and then open Internet Explorer 7.
In Internet Explorer, click Tools, and then click Internet Options.
Click the Advanced tab, and then click Reset. Follow any on-screen directions.
Close Internet Explorer 7.
Reinstall Internet Explorer 8.

Events displayed in Event log after uninstalling Internet Explorer 8 on Windows XP SP2 or SP3

If you view the Event log in Windows XP SP2 or SP3 you might see event ID 1041 from Userenv after uninstalling Internet Explorer 8

The message will be "Windows cannot query DllName registry entry for {7B849a69-220F-451E-B3FE-2CB811AF94AE} / {CF7639F3-ABA2-41DB-97F2-81E2C5DBFC5D} and it will not be loaded. This is most likely caused by a faulty registration."

The cause is that some of the Internet Explorer 8 registry keys were not removed when it was uninstalled. These keys do not affect the operation of Internet Explorer 6 or Internet Explorer 7.

To resolve this error, delete the following registry keys:

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon\GPExtensions\]

{7B849a69-220F-451E-B3FE-2CB811AF94AE} = Internet Explorer User Accelerators

{CF7639F3-ABA2-41DB-97F2-81E2C5DBFC5D} = Internet Explorer Machine Accelerators

To uninstall Internet Explorer 8

For Windows Vista users:

Click Start, and then click Control Panel.
In the left pane, click Control Panel Home if you are in Classic View.
Click Uninstall a program under Programs.
In the left panel, click View installed updates.
Wait a few seconds for all updates to appear on the list, then scroll down and select Windows Internet Explorer 8.
Click Uninstall.

For Windows XP Users:

Click Start, and then click Control Panel.
Click Add or Remove Programs.
Select the Show updates check box if it isn't already.
Scroll down the list and select Windows Internet Explorer 8, and then click Remove.

If you try to uninstall Internet Explorer 8 RC1 and it does not show up in the Add/Remove programs section of the Control Panel under Installed Updates (click View installed updates in the left panel), follow these steps:

Go to http://support.microsoft.com/kb/947821 to download the System Update Readiness tool.
Scroll down the page to find the package for your version of Windows. Download and install it.
After the installation finishes, click Start, click Control Panel, click Programs and then click View Installed Updates.
Wait for the list to populate. This might take a few moments.
Windows Internet Explorer 8 should now appear in the list of installed updates. Select it and then click Uninstall.

Compatibility

Compatibility issues with websites

Website compatibility

Windows Internet Explorer 8 improves browser interoperability and advances the Web by delivering a better implementation of web standards. Although this is a move in the right direction, you might encounter compatibility issues with some sites that still rely on the behavior of earlier versions of Internet Explorer. Common symptoms of site compatibility problems are out-of-place menus, images, or text.

Compatibility View resolves most site compatibility issues and makes websites that are designed for older browsers look better.

To enable Compatibility View for specific websites that are not displayed correctly or that are not working, follow these steps:

In Internet Explorer, open the website that is not displayed correctly or that does not work correctly.
Click the Compatibility View icon. This icon is located to the right side of the address bar. Or, click Compatibility View on the Tools menu

Internet Explorer remembers sites you choose to view in Compatibility View so that the next time you visit these sites you don’t have to press the button again. You can clear this list when deleting browsing history by following these steps:

In Internet Explorer, click Tools, and then click Internet Options.
Click Delete.
Click the History check box (if not already selected) and click Delete.

Intuit TurboTax Online

At this time, Internet Explorer 8 is not fully supported by Intuit for use with the TurboTax Online program.

Compatibility issues with Programs & Add-ons

Cooliris (PicLens)

Internet Explorer 8 displays a compatibility warning when certain versions of the Cooliris (formerly known as PicLens) add-on are installed. This issue occurs because Internet Explorer 8 and specific versions of this add-on are incompatible, and the installation is unstable. When you disable this add-on, the functionality that this product provides is removed.

For more information and for updates, visit the following website:
http://www.cooliris.com/product/

Google Toolbar

Internet Explorer 8 displays a compatibility warning when certain versions of the Google Toolbar add-on are installed. This issue occurs because Internet Explorer 8 and specific versions of this add-on are incompatible, and the installation is unstable. When you disable this add-on, the functionality that this product provides is removed.

For more information and for updates, visit the following website:
http://toolbar.google.com/tbredir?r=ie8_upgrade

HP Smart Web Printing

Internet Explorer 8 displays a compatibility warning when certain versions of the HP Smart Web Printing add-on are installed. This issue occurs because Internet Explorer 8 and specific versions of this add-on are incompatible, and the installation is unstable. When you disable this add-on, the functionality that this product provides is removed.

For more information and for updates, visit the following website:
http://h71036.www7.hp.com/hho/cache/482779-0-0-225-121.html?jumpid=hpr_R1002_USEN

The Internet Explorer Developer Toolbar is not compatible with Internet Explorer 8

The Internet Explorer Developer Toolbar used with earlier versions of Internet Explorer is not compatible with Internet Explorer 8. If you have it installed when you upgrade to Internet Explorer 8, you will receive a message that the toolbar is not compatible.

The Developer Toolbar has been replaced by the built-in Internet Explorer 8 developer tools. To start using the developer tools, do one of the following:

Start Internet Explorer 8, and then press F12.

Or,

Start Internet Explorer 8, click the Tools button, and then click Developer Tools.

Java 6 update 11 recommended for viewing Java Applets

Older versions of Java may cause crashes and hangs when viewing pages that load Java Applets. This is caused by architectural changes from IE8 to IE7. To resolve this, install Java 6 update 11 or higher. See the Help topic Install Java in Internet Explorer.

Real Networks RealPlayer 11

There is a known program compatibility issue that occurs when you use Real Networks RealPlayer 11 with Internet Explorer 8 on Windows Vista Service Pack 1 or on Windows Server 2008. To resolve this issue, install hotfix 957055. The system automatically receives this update when you install Internet Explorer 8.

For more information, see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/957055/

To install both Internet Explorer 8 and RealPlayer 11, you must install RealPlayer 11 before you install Internet Explorer 8.

If you install RealPlayer 11 after you install Internet Explorer 8, you may experience some program compatibility issues. To resolve these issues, uninstall Internet Explorer 8, and then reinstall it.

Roxio Drive Letter Access

Internet Explorer 8 displays a compatibility warning when certain versions of the Drive Letter Access (DLA) add-on are installed. This issue occurs because Internet Explorer 8 RC1 and specific versions of this add-on are incompatible, and the installation is unstable. When you disable this add-on, the main functionality of the DLA product is unaffected.

For more information and for updates, visit the following Roxio website:
http://www.roxio.com/enu/products/dla/overview.html

Skype

Internet Explorer 8 displays a compatibility warning when certain versions of the Skype add-on are installed. This issue occurs because Internet Explorer 8 and specific versions of this add-on are incompatible, and the installation is unstable. When you disable this add-on, the main functionality of the Skype product is unaffected. Make sure that your version of the Skype add-on is 2.2.0.193 or a later version. To do this, click the Tools menu in Internet Explorer, point to Manage Add-ons, and then click Enable or Disable Add-ons.

For more information and for updates, visit the following Skype website:
http://www.skype.com

Snapfish Photo Uploader Toolbar

The Snapfish Photo Uploader Toolbar does not currently work with Internet Explorer 8. Snapfish is aware of the problem and is working on a solution. Check the Snapfish website for more information.

For more information and for updates, visit the following website:
http://www.snapfish.com

Windows Live Login Helper Object

Internet Explorer 8 displays a compatibility warning if certain older versions of the Windows Live Login Helper Object add-on are installed on your computer. This add-on is often installed together with other Windows Live Essentials software such as Messenger or Mail.

To fix this issue, download the latest version of Windows Live Essentials from the following website:
http://download.live.com/

Accessibility Considerations

ZoomText’s Document mode does not work in Internet Explorer 8

After navigating to a webpage and pressing alt+shift+d to bring up the Document Reader, ZoomText is unable to find an active document.

Alt text not displayed in image maps

If you disable images in Internet Explorer 8, alt text for image maps will not be displayed. Images are turned on or off for webpages through these steps:

In Internet Explorer, click Tools, and then click Internet Options. ,
Click the Advanced tab,.
Under Accessibility, select or clear the Show pictures check box to turn images on or off.

Window-Eyes

Window-Eyes becomes unresponsive when Internet Explorer 8 terminates unexpectedly.

There are currently no known workarounds, but the Window-Eyes team has been informed about the issue and is investigating it.

First Run Wizard and Window-Eyes

Window-Eyes will not report the actual state of radio buttons in the first run wizard's dialog.

When Window-Eyes reports the state of the "Use express settings" radio button, it reports that the radio button is unchecked, when actually the radio button is checked. Window-Eyes will continue to report the incorrect state of the radio buttons on all of the remaining steps of the wizard.

The current workaround is to set focus on the desired radio button and activate it through the space bar or enter key, and ignore that Window-Eyes reports that the radio button is unchecked.

Supernova

Supernova will become unresponsive when Internet Explorer 8 terminates unexpectedly.

There are currently no known workarounds, but the Supernova team has been informed about the issue and is investigating it.

New Tab Page with Supernova

Internet Explorer 8 terminates unexpectedly when expanded or collapsed links are activated in the default New Tab Page while Supernova is running.

There are currently no known workarounds, but the Supernova team has been informed about the issue and is investigating it.

NVDA

NVDA does not automatically read the instructional information on the first run wizard's dialog.

NVDA is not able to automatically neither read the instruction text nor announce the title of the First Run wizard's dialog.

This can be worked around by manually setting focus on the dialog and then executing the NVDA command to announce the information.

Other issues to be aware of

The new Smart Address Bar and Windows Search

Internet Explorer 8 has a new Address bar that searches the titles and addresses of your history, favorites, and RSS feeds as you type. This enables you to find the sites that you want quickly and easily. This feature works best when Windows Search is installed and is enabled.

Internet Explorer 8 works with Windows Search 3 or later versions of Windows Search. Windows Vista contains Windows Search 3. You can use Windows Search 4 on any version of Windows to get the full benefit of the Address bar search functionality.

To obtain Windows Search 4, visit the following Microsoft website:
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/products/winfamily/desktopsearch/getitnow.mspx

For more information about Windows Search 4, visit the following Microsoft website:
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/products/winfamily/desktopsearch/choose/windowssearch4.mspx

Internet Explorer 8 automatically starts to use Windows Search for the Address bar search procedure as soon as Windows Search is installed. Internet Explorer 8 and Windows Search can be installed in any order.

If you experience stability or performance problems with Windows Search 3, we recommend that you upgrade to Windows Search 4. This upgrade resolves many issues associated with Windows Search 3.

IEAK wizard fails to import Accelerators from the user profile if the installed Accelerator XML has namespace prefix

Accelerators installed on your local machine that contain the namespace prefix in the XML file will not import successfully when using the IEAK wizard import button.

There is a known limitation in the XML parsing code in IEAK. Any XML file that has namespace prefix for all elements will fail to import properly.

To import Accelerators or any XML file into the IEAK, remove the namespace prefixes from elements in the XML file and then retry.

Turn off Data Execution Prevention group policy

The Group Policy setting, Turn off Data Execution Prevention (Windows Components | Internet Explorer | Security Features), does not currently function as expected. While the Internet Control Panel option will appear to be disabled, Data Execution Prevention is still turned on. This is a known problem and will be corrected it in a future update.