As soon as you install Windows Vista on you computer, you just say goodbye for good to Internet Explorer 6 (IE6) because it is replaced by Internet Explorer 7. Why bother? Yup, that's the correct question to normal users but for web developers the absence of IE6 is troublesome especially when it comes to cross browser compatibility check. If you are on Windows XP you don't have problem to install multiple IEs as they can run side by side but not in Vista.
There's a solution to get around the problem but it's not really the easy one. I break down the steps into 2 parts so that it would be easier to follow.
Part 1: Software installations
1. First you need to download and install Virtual PC 2007 (roughly 31 MB)
2. Download IE6 VPC Image. There are several packages so make sure you choose the right installer (IE6-XPSP3_VPC.EXE) which is roughly 421 MB.
3. Once you are done with step 2, unpack the installer to a folder of your choice.
4. Run Virtual PC 2007 and click new to setup new virtual machine.
5. There's a wizard that will walk you through the process and here are the details you need to fill in.
- Select "create a virtual machine" when you are asked for an option
- Name and location: Rename it if you plan to have several virtualization (i.e. running Linux at the same time)
- Select Windows XP as an operating system
- Simply go with 128 MB, you may upgrade it later on
- Select Windows XP as an operating system
- Virtual Hard Disk Options: choose "an existing virtual hard disk"
- Find IE6 image by browsing the directory where you unpack IE6 VPC Image in step 3
At this stage you should be able to boot into Windows XP with Internet Explorer 6 installed. As far as I'm concerned, I had already completed my wordpress theme and had uploaded it to my hosting server and now I need to see it online via IE6. The following part will show how to set our IE6 so that it can be connected to the internet.
Part 2: Getting IE6 Online
1. Go to Virtual PC console and click on settings > Networking and select "Adapter 1" dropdown menu on the right. As I'm on a wireless network, I just select network card that's associated to wireless connection. Otherwise, select "Shared Networking (NAT)" and click OK.
2. Go to Tools > Internet Options > Connections and click on "setup" in Internet Explorer 6. Make sure to do the following
- Network Connection Type: Connect to the Internet
- Choose Set up my connection manually
- Internet Connection: choose Connect using a broadband connection that is always on
- Click on "Finish".
2. Without exiting the "Internet Option", select "Local Are Network (LAN) Settings" and tick "Automatically Detect Settings" and click OK.
3. Restart Internet Explorer 6 and you should be able to online by now.
Now you are good to go online with IE6 on Windows Vista!
Technorati Tags: windows vista, internet explorer 6 on Vista, IE6 on vista, Virtual PC 2007, IE6 VPC Image, Windows XP, tips, tricks
Oct 4, 2008 at 00:08:43
argh! will ie6 just die already! if i ever have to use it now it makes me feel sick.
I can’t believe anyone would want to do this.
It’s not really ie6 on vista though, is it? it’s ie6 on xp run virtually on vista.
sean (i hate ie6 and 7 for that matter)
Oct 4, 2008 at 15:55:22
Yup thanks for the heads up. It’s virtually on Vista :)
Oct 29, 2008 at 20:57:21
Hai
I too hate IE6. But due to more users of IE6 (Still XP is widely used OS now days.By default it has only IE6 as a default browser) a Cross browser compatibility is a big threat now a days for designers…
As a designer point of view, this thread rocks..keep up your good work.. :)