Release Notes for Internet Explorer 8Unless otherwise noted, all issues listed below apply to Internet Explorer 8 on every supported operating system.
InstallationSystem RequirementsTo confirm that your computer can run Internet Explorer 8, check the system requirements prior to installation: https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=111417
Known Installation IssuesProblems when upgrading to Internet Explorer 8 from Internet Explorer 7If you receive a message that all add-ons are disabled every time you start Internet Explorer, follow these steps to help correct the problem:
Events displayed in Event log after uninstalling Internet Explorer 8 on Windows XP SP2 or SP3If 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 8For Windows Vista users:
For Windows XP Users:
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:
CompatibilityCompatibility issues with websitesWebsite compatibilityWindows 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:
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:
Intuit TurboTax OnlineAt this time, Internet Explorer 8 is not fully supported by Intuit for use with the TurboTax Online program.
Compatibility issues with Programs & Add-onsCooliris (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: Google ToolbarInternet 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:
HP Smart Web PrintingInternet 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:
The Internet Explorer Developer Toolbar is not compatible with Internet Explorer 8The 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:
Or,
Java 6 update 11 recommended for viewing Java AppletsOlder 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 11There 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: https://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 AccessInternet 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:
SkypeInternet 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:
Snapfish Photo Uploader ToolbarThe 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:
Windows Live Login Helper ObjectInternet 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.
Accessibility ConsiderationsZoomText’s Document mode does not work in Internet Explorer 8After 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 mapsIf 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:
Window-EyesWindow-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-EyesWindow-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.
SupernovaSupernova 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 SupernovaInternet 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.
NVDANVDA 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 ofThe new Smart Address Bar and Windows SearchInternet 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: For more information about Windows Search 4, visit the following Microsoft website: 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 prefixAccelerators 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 policyThe 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. |