Internet Explorer 7 Release Candidate 1 in standalone mode(IE7)

Submitted by Yousif on Sun, 27/08/2006 - 10:59am.

Microsoft released the final release version of IE7. I added an article with the steps to run IR7 in standalone mode...

mutliple ExplorerWindows Internet Explorer is becoming harder to run without going through the installation process (which basically over-writes the previous version). In previous versions of Internet Explorer 7.0 (BETA 1 and BETA 2), IE assumed default values in the Windows Registry that point to different components of the user-interface. This made it easier to run IE7 in standalone mode with the little help of a tiny batch script by Jon Galloway .

IE7 BETA 3 and later versions; however, do not assume defaults. So for it to work properly in standalone mode we need to set the appropriate classes and interfaces in the windows registry. The interesting thing about this is that as soon as they are loaded in memory by IE, they are no longer required. This means we don't need to wait for "iexplore.exe" to close before performing a registry clean-up.

I programmed a little app that would automate the whole process and run Internet Explorer 7 Release Candidate 1 in standalone mode. You can run multiple instances of it with no problem. Click on the picture on the right to see how IE7 Release Candidate 1(top) and IE6 (bottom) can run side by side with the help of my little app.

Why run Internet Explorer 7 Release Candidate 1 in standalone mode?

Maybe you are a web developer who wants to test his/her designs on IE7 but want to keep Internet Explorer 6 until Microsoft releases the final version. It's basically a way of running IE7 and IE6 at the same time without having to overwrite the previous version.

What does the program do?

"IE7s.exe" will create a .exe.local file (if you're interested, read Junfeng Zhang's blog post for more information about the .local file). After that it will add values to more than a thousand registry keys in your Windows Registry. Internet Explorer 7 should start then. 10 seconds later the program will perform a cleanup, remove all the registry keys and close itself. It is OK to run multiple instances at once.

What's new?

  • Fixed many of the reported bugs in the IE7s.exe. Particularly, compatibility with non-US versions of Windows XP as well as Windows XP professional x64.
  • No need for "cleanup.exe".
  • Added keys to support
    • Conditional CSS comments <!--[if lte IE 7]>
    • Combo-boxes

What does NOT work?

  • Openning a new window and IE7's context menu.
  • Bookmarks, RSS reader, and the search box. The search box works if you install IE7s using the installer. Alternatively, you can directly add search providers to the windows registry (article coming soon).
  • Visiting pages that need HTTP authentication (username/password)

Requirements

Windows XP SP2 or later. (Not tested on Windows XP SP2 - Japanese/Chinese/Hebrew/Arabic locale but should work in theory)

How to run IE7 RC1 in standalone mode

You have two options; the first is to download the Installer below which I highly recommend. The installer will download Internet Explorer 7 Release Candidate 1 from Microsoft's Servers. It will then extract all the necessary files and create easily accessible shortcuts in the start menu/desktop/quick launch depending on your preferences. In order to use tabbed browsing, you need to update Windows with Windows XP update KB915865 . This update is included with Internet Explorer 7 RC1 and will be installed if you use the installer below.

The second option is to download IE7 RC1 self-extracting archive your self, extract it to a single folder using the "/X" switch. E.g. :

IE7RC1-WindowsXP-x86-enu .exe /X

then download and place the "IE7s.exe" file in that folder. Before starting IE7 you need to apply Update KB915865. To do that run "xmllitesetup.exe" which is located in the "./Update" folder of the extracted Internet Explorer 7 archive. After you install the update you can run Internet Explorer 7 by executing " IE7s.exe".

Notes:

 

Related Articles:

 

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Download Internet Explorer 7.0 RC1 Standalone Installer ( 428 KB + 14.59 MB for IE7)

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

OR

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

Download Internet Explorer 7.0 RC1 Standalone Launch program ONLY ( 147 KB)

AND

Download Internet Explorer 7.0 RC1 from Microsoft (Direct link to the file 14.59MB)

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Works now!

Submitted by Anonymous on Sun, 27/08/2006 - 8:52pm.

It works now. Thanks a million!

EN-US Windows XP SP2 Professional

IE7 doesnt work with Windows Update in XP?

Submitted by Anonymous on Tue, 29/08/2006 - 11:03pm.

I can't run Windows Update or Office Update. Are Microsoft products not designed to be compatible with other Microsoft products now?

SP2

Submitted by Anonymous on Sun, 03/09/2006 - 6:12pm.

If u dont have sp2, it totally kills ur computer!!

Re: SP2

Submitted by Yousif on Tue, 05/09/2006 - 8:02am.

Well I clearly said SP2 or later! Sorry anyway :/

Really?

Submitted by Anonymous on Sun, 01/07/2007 - 8:45am.

Really?

Works like a charm! thank

Submitted by Anonymous on Tue, 12/09/2006 - 10:24pm.

Works like a charm! thank you!

thank

Submitted by Anonymous on Sun, 02/03/2008 - 8:17pm.

thank you

Wonderful!

Submitted by Anonymous on Mon, 28/08/2006 - 7:21am.

Thank you for making my life easier!

THANX

Submitted by Anonymous on Tue, 29/08/2006 - 7:16am.

Just read about RC1 and then found this.

Thanks!!!

oooh yeahh i like it

Submitted by Anonymous on Tue, 29/08/2006 - 1:30pm.

it run.
and that's all

thank you, really

Favorites

Submitted by Anonymous on Wed, 30/08/2006 - 5:05am.

Can not see favorites at all. Tried exporting form 6 and importing into 7. Did not work. Any ideas?

Re: Favorites

Submitted by Anonymous on Wed, 30/08/2006 - 11:38pm.

It says bookmarks (= favorites) don't work in the article above

Very nice

Submitted by Anonymous on Sun, 03/09/2006 - 7:46am.

Smooth install, seems to work without problems. This will be very useful for my development work until the formal release occurs. Thanks!

Jon Crew

Popup blocker and combo boxes

Submitted by Anonymous on Mon, 04/09/2006 - 9:13am.

I have a side effect where the popup blocker blocks the use of combo boxes, even if switched off. Anyone else seeing a similar problem?

I have exactly the same

Submitted by Anonymous on Tue, 05/09/2006 - 6:48am.

I have exactly the same problem. I have alighted this strange bug in IE7 Beta 3 with this standalone loader just now. I can't avoid this even if popup filter is disabled too. I have just updated to IE7RC1 in hope this is already fixed, but it's not. I've used "Internet Explorer 7.0 RC1 Standalone Installer".

The main question is this bug related to standalone installer or IE7 itself?

Re: popup blocker and combo boxes

Submitted by Yousif on Tue, 05/09/2006 - 7:42am.

The thing with running IE7 in standalone is that we only add the necessary keys for it to run and render pages correctly. There is a group of registry keys that are apparently responsible for spawning sub/new windows (the combo box is considered a window). They are not added to the windows registry; hence we are unable to open new windows (except right click-> open new Window).

So to answer your question, it is definitely something to do with the standalone program. I'll see if i can find those keys.

Re; I have exactly the same

Submitted by Yousif on Sat, 09/09/2006 - 11:14am.

FIXED!!
:)

Not really fixed or I am stupid

Submitted by Anonymous on Thu, 14/09/2006 - 8:47am.

I've downloaded "Internet Explorer 7.0 RC1 Standalone Launch program ONLY (147 KB)" and have replaced the IE7s.exe file in IE7 folder from this archive, but nothing is changed -- combo-boxes still blocked. What I am doing wrong?

Hi Yousif

Submitted by Anonymous on Sun, 17/09/2006 - 5:33pm.

I still get the popup blocker when attempting to use dropdowns. Is there something I can change in the registry etc? I am using the latest version of the standalone launcher as of 09/15/2006.

Can you give me a link to a

Submitted by Yousif on Mon, 18/09/2006 - 1:56pm.

Can you give me a link to a site where combo-boxes don't work?

here you are

Submitted by Anonymous on Sat, 30/09/2006 - 5:42pm.

www.gothaer.de , all comboboxes are blocked

THANKS IT WORKS

Submitted by Anonymous on Mon, 04/09/2006 - 12:40pm.

but I wonder how to disable the microsoft first page display "Thank you for choosing Internet Explorer 7.
To complete the installation and setup, please select the appropriate options below and click Save Your Settings.

We hope you enjoy using Internet Explorer 7!" and i cannot disable it

Thanks a Lot!

Submitted by Anonymous on Tue, 05/09/2006 - 9:23am.

.

Works like a charm

Submitted by Anonymous on Tue, 05/09/2006 - 6:21pm.

I blogged about this solution but wasn't aware that you already had done it, until somebody posted a comment. Thanks a lot. Can we expect you to continue the work if more releases occur?

Thanks
Jesper
http://justaddwater.dk/

Re: Works like a charm

Submitted by Yousif on Sat, 09/09/2006 - 11:13am.

Can we expect you to continue the work if more releases occur?

ofcourse ;)

Could you do an installe for older IE versions too?

Submitted by Anonymous on Thu, 07/09/2006 - 11:42am.

This installer is great! Nice work! It's got me thinking that it must be possible to enhance it for older versions of IE too, such that it downloads the old versions from:

http://browsers.evolt.org/?ie/32bit/standalone

Then installs the older browsers of your choice - creating icons, adjusting the registry*, adding the browselc.dll* and fixing the conditional comments issues*.

* = http://www.positioniseverything.net/articles/multiIE.html

That would make for a fantastic tool! (Hint, hint...)

;)

Re: Installer for older versions

Submitted by Yousif on Sat, 09/09/2006 - 11:32am.

Hmmm, not a bad idea at all. I might.

Re: Re: Installer for older versions

Submitted by Anonymous on Mon, 11/09/2006 - 11:03am.

Wahoo! :) I'll keep checking back!

big big big big thanx for

Submitted by Anonymous on Thu, 07/09/2006 - 2:43pm.

big big big big thanx for your great work!!!

Does'nt work :-(

Submitted by Anonymous on Thu, 07/09/2006 - 6:59pm.

Sorry, but it does'nt work for me. IE7 starts up but seems to fail loading. It ends during start-up. No error-messages, nothing. Anyone an idea? OS XP SP2+ done everything as discribed above.
Jens

Me Neither

Submitted by Anonymous on Mon, 11/09/2006 - 12:28am.

Seems unable to load properly. Main Tab says "connecting" but never comes up with anything. Eventually stops responding. If I go to the tools menu I get this message:
"Windows Task Manager: taskmgr.exe - Entry Point Not Found
The procedure entry point InternetGetSecurityInfoByURLW could not be located in the dynamic link library WININET.dll"

Anyone any ideas?

Same here

Submitted by Anonymous on Wed, 20/09/2006 - 2:54pm.

I'm seeing the same thing.

Same thing repeatedly until I turn off firewall & antivirus

Submitted by morgasse on Thu, 26/10/2006 - 1:21am.

It will get stuck at connecting then it will attempt the home page and then nothing comes up in the content window (stays blank white). Attempting to select any menu item will bring up the DLL error listed above.

The only way I can successfully use IE 7 standalone is to shut off my firewall and antivirus when running the program. These 2 seem to be the only things that cause this issue for me. I have tried to shut everything else running but these 2 and it will not work. I shut them both off and voila! IE 7 standalone works. IE7 has been set to have internet access in the firewall so it must be something else causing it to hang.

Firewall and Antivirus is Computer Associate's ETrust.

Did you ever get an answer

Submitted by Anonymous on Tue, 26/06/2007 - 2:53pm.

Did you ever get an answer to your question about IE 7 just saying "connecting" but never opening? Please let me know!

Works very good

Submitted by Anonymous on Fri, 08/09/2006 - 9:20pm.

It works very good except for pages that need authorisation (username/password).

Additionally running your app finaly fixed my borked IE6 from opening a new window everytime I typed in an URL ;) Thanx for that!

Works great !

Submitted by Anonymous on Sat, 16/09/2006 - 9:38am.

Thank you so much.
It works great in WinXP SP2 Spanish LatinAmerican. :)

And it gave me so much pleasure that my websites render correctly. Currently working with XHTML + CSS/P no-tables-please.

Problems - No Tabs at all

Submitted by Anonymous on Sat, 16/09/2006 - 11:32pm.

Hello (and sorry for my bad english, it's not my mothers tongue),

the Standalone-Loader works well, IE7 RC1 starts, but there are just the adress-bar, the back and forward buttons and a reload button. There are no tabs ore other buttons.

My notebook was totally set up a few days before and I've updated Windows XP - there shouldn't be a problem from this side. I dont know what is wrong, but something doesn't work as it should. :(

Greetings from Vienna (Austria), hope you can help me.
Michael

Works now

Submitted by Anonymous on Sat, 16/09/2006 - 11:36pm.

Hello and sorry for being stupid,

I just read in your text, that I had to run a file from the update-folder. Now everything works fine!

Thanks, Michael

Works... nearly

Submitted by Anonymous on Thu, 21/09/2006 - 9:55am.

I got this to work using the all-in-one package above.

However, something is very broken with the rendering of the browser chrome because it doesn't get redrawn when you tab between applications, so all the controls, URL bar, etc effectively disappear and show the menus from the last application you selected.

Also, the taskbar icon does not respond to right-clicks and the minimise/maximise/close controls don't work. I have to shut it down by ending the teask in the task manager.

My version of Windows is XP Pro SP2 (Build 2600.xpsp_sp2_gdr.050301-1519 : Service Pack 2) -- with all latest critical updates.

I also have the other standalone installs of 5.01 and 5.5 with the registry hacks enabled to allow title-bar version and conditional comments -- could this be related to the problem?

Matt Hill
matthew at nixonmcinnes dot co dot uk

Re: Works... nearly

Submitted by Yousif on Fri, 22/09/2006 - 1:01pm.

It has nothing to do with IE5 and CC reg hacks.

The problem is when you install IE7, it over-writes some Classes and Interfaces used by IE6. So if we want IE7 to work in standalone with Tabbed browsing showing up correctly, we'd have to over-write the IE6 keys. I tried that and it partially restored most of IE7's tabbed browsing functionality but the whole OS became unstable and you can forget about IE6 because it won't work again.

So it's best to stay safe

Many, many thanks¡¡¡

Submitted by Anonymous on Thu, 21/09/2006 - 7:40pm.

Works¡¡

Thaks very much

This Would Not Work & IE6 Will Not Launch Now

Submitted by Anonymous on Fri, 22/09/2006 - 3:54am.

I tried getting the IE7 standalone to work on my home computer to no avail. It is interesting because it worked on my office machine. Everything seemed to install fine and then IE7 just locked up. I think it installed and added all the registry keys, but locked up for some reason and never performed the cleanup to remove the registry keys.

I think the added registry keys are causing IE6 to not launch properly. IE6 will now begin to launch for like 3 seconds and just close out. I really need to get this fixed. I was looking for the cleanup.exe that came with the beta 3 install to see if that would fix it.

I am a web developer that has to have atleast IE6 running for testing purposes. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

Re: IE6 Will Not Launch Now

Submitted by Yousif on Fri, 22/09/2006 - 12:46pm.

Download this clean-up registry script. Run it, it should clean all the mess. Start IE6 and let me know if that didn't help.

IE6 Works Now

Submitted by Anonymous on Fri, 22/09/2006 - 9:48pm.

That script worked perfectly. Thanks for the quick response. As I mentioned, this IE7 standalone worked fine on my office machine and I would really like to get it working on my home machine because I often work from home.

Any suggestions on how to get this working?

Thanks again!

Initial success, then IE6 problems

Submitted by Anonymous on Thu, 28/09/2006 - 3:12pm.

Hi Yousif

Firstly, thanks - great work on putting this together. I downloaded this to my QA machine and everything worked fine. Very chuffed. Then I must have clicked on the wrong button in IE7's options dialogue (advanced settings) trying to investigate the new ActiveX defaults and the app hung; subsequently IE6 crashes on load of first web page. I downloaded and ran your clean-up registry script but to no avail.

Would appreciate any suggestions...

Re: Initial success

Submitted by Yousif on Fri, 29/09/2006 - 11:31am.

I'v uploaded another registry script. This will reconstruct some of the important IE6 keys in the registery as a last resort. I never went through something like that when i tested IE7s.exe . I hope this helps.

IE 6.0 Standalone

Submitted by Anonymous on Tue, 03/10/2006 - 11:58am.

Thanks Yousif

In the end I found that the default installation of IE 6.0 works, while the standalone version I've got in my suite of IE versions has the problem. Unfortunately the script did not do the trick - I suspect I just need to re-install the standalone version.

Again, many thanks for your help.

clean-up registry script

Submitted by tacere on Tue, 10/10/2006 - 4:51pm.

Where can I get the clean-up script? I installed the standalone but and it has ruined my IE6 version. I need to get back to the normal IE6 so I can work.

Re: Clean-up registry script

Submitted by Yousif on Tue, 10/10/2006 - 6:33pm.
I don't know how the comment referring to the script disappeared. Anyway, this is the script that should repair IE6. If that doesn't work then try this one AFTER applying the first one and never run IE7s.exe again.

IE7 takes over the original IE 6 bookmarks

Submitted by Anonymous on Fri, 22/09/2006 - 11:29am.

The install was really easy, thanks for that!

When i visit a bookmark from start > favorites, IE7 comes up as standard browser.
Can i chance this so IE6 will become back my standard browser?

Thanks in advance.

start IE6

Submitted by Yousif on Fri, 22/09/2006 - 12:51pm.

start IE6
Tools > Internet Options > Programs
tick Internet Explorer should check to see...

Stil starting IE7

Submitted by Anonymous on Fri, 22/09/2006 - 1:13pm.

I've done what you sugested, but no work.

When i visit a bookmark from start > favorites, IE7 comes up as standard browser.
But when i go straight to start > Internet Explorer then IE6 starts up.

It seems IE7 is in control over bookmarks in stead of my now standard IE6.
Is there a "hard" way to set it in the register?

Thanks in advance.

same for me....

Submitted by Anonymous on Thu, 28/09/2006 - 2:29pm.

When i visit a bookmark from start > favorites, IE7 comes up as standard browser.
Can i chance this so IE6 will become back my standard browser?

I'm having the same problem - does anyone know if there is a fix?

Thanks

IE7 RC1 Sucks big time (popups does not work)

Submitted by Anonymous on Sat, 23/09/2006 - 12:43pm.

IE7 is the first browser ever I have installed that I could not open a popup window with.

After using the Internet Explorer 7.0 RC1 Standalone installer from above (which installed the IE7 nicely) I could not open a popup window on the site I wanted to test.

First I made sure "Turn on Pop-up Blocker" was not checked in the
Internet Options->Privacy tab.
It was not. But it still blocks my popups.

Then I tried to check the "Turn on Pop-up Blocker" and added the site to the list that should allow popups.
No luck.

Then I read the help (searched for popup) and found this explanation:
1. Open Internet Explorer
2. On the tools menu, click the popup blocker, and then you click the bla bla bla for the popup blocker.
THERE IS NO popup blocker in the tools menu.

Okay, there might be that this is not working since IE7 is installed as a standalone, but get this MICROSOFT:

We want to be able to install IE7 standalone. We need to be able to test the webpages in IE6.... did you (microsoft) not know that the majority still uses that browser.

It is just plain stupid of such a large company to not make this an option when installing.

Long live Firefox. Long live Firefox the best browser there is.

Re: popups does not work

Submitted by Yousif on Sat, 23/09/2006 - 3:06pm.

There are no settings in the Registy for the pop-up blocker so obviously it won't work. I set the bare minimum keys for it to render pages and that is it. If you need everything to function properly then I'm afraid you'll have to install it. Have a look at Installing multiple versions of IE on your PC. You can install IE7 using the official install and install the rest with an unofficial installer in standalone mode.

Combobox freezes IE7RC1 Standalone

Submitted by jfjensen on Sat, 07/10/2006 - 5:18pm.

I've been running IE5 Standalone alongside my "proper" IE6 for some time now.
I've Installed IE7RC1 Standalone, but when launching the executable it tries to load a page from runonce.msn.com which seemly contains a JavaScript error. This locks IE7 and I cannot close the box. Is this what is called a combobox?

And do I understand the remedy right: I have to install MS' IERC1 on my computer and then install your standalone package?

Re: Combobox freezes IE7RC1

Submitted by Yousif on Sun, 08/10/2006 - 12:26am.

If you want to get rid of the "runonce.msn.com" . Start IE6, Click on the Home button then close it . Start IE7s.exe again and it should start with your default homepage.

This page explains what a combobox is.

And to answer you second question...You must NOT run the standalone program if you have IE7 already installed.

JavaScript Error Box still freezes IE7RC1 Standalone

Submitted by jfjensen on Fri, 13/10/2006 - 8:14pm.

Jørgen Farum Jensen:

Your advice concerning my first question does not work, alas.

I have understood your answer to my second question.
I have not done this at any time, I've only downloaded
and run your IE7RC1 installer.

no math

Submitted by Anonymous on Thu, 26/07/2007 - 10:51pm.

do not make me do math to comment!

why not?

Submitted by Yousif on Fri, 27/07/2007 - 9:15pm.

why not?

Flash files not working

Submitted by blynne on Sun, 24/09/2006 - 4:34pm.

Just wanted to take a moment to thank you for the software...so far it works great with a few bugs I am sure I will figure out...lol...if not I will shout...

But I have one question...sites with "flash" content do not seem to be rendering...is that a problem with the standalone or with IE7?

Okay...seems to be fine now...

Submitted by blynne on Sun, 24/09/2006 - 5:22pm.

Okay...they seem to be working now...not sure what happened there...lol

does IE 7 standalone display Flash?

Submitted by bjanko on Wed, 06/12/2006 - 8:16pm.

I just installed IE 7 standalone and also cannot get Flash files. Do you know what you did to get this working? Is it possible to see flash in the IE 7 standalone?

Thanks,
bjanko

Drop Down Menu Doesn't Work

Submitted by Anonymous on Tue, 26/09/2006 - 8:22pm.

Everytime I encounter a website that has a drop down menu choices, a popup blocker appears. Also, the popup blocker seems to be intruding at almost anything. I set the setting to low yet it still blocks every window it opens.

Standalone plus winamp?!!

Submitted by Anonymous on Tue, 26/09/2006 - 9:44pm.

I don't know maybe it's a bug, I don't really understand these kind of things, but I was playing song with last version of winamp on Windows XP SP2 Dutch version. but when I click Tools I receive next error:

[songname]" winamp "[songname] Winamp: winamp.exe - Entrypoint is not found"

Could not find an entrypoint InternetGetSecurityInfoByURLW in DLL-file WININET.dll

where [songname] is the title of that song...

Someone same problem?!

Re: Standalone plus winamp

Submitted by Yousif on Wed, 27/09/2006 - 1:19pm.

Was IE7 running? Did you encounter the same error even after restarting Winamp. It looks like an error you'd get when you start IE7 without setting the registry keys.

Locks up CPU at 100%

Submitted by Anonymous on Thu, 28/09/2006 - 11:17pm.

While the installer doesn't seem to throw any errors, when the window opens, it locks up my CPU at 100% trying to churn on something. Any ideas?

Re: Locks up CPU at 100%

Submitted by Yousif on Fri, 29/09/2006 - 11:13am.

Simply uninstall the Developer toolbar.

Re: Locks up CPU at 100%

Submitted by Anonymous on Sat, 30/09/2006 - 5:38pm.

good hint, that worked for me!

Thanks!

Submitted by Anonymous on Thu, 05/10/2006 - 4:11pm.

Thanks for this ... works like a charm even under Parallels!

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