Internet Explorer 8 beta 2 Installation on Windows XP SP3 Irreversible

[btarunr]

Typically, a "beta" software item is that which is meant for evaluation, testing, or use not guaranteed by the developer of the software. If you happen to use Windows XP Service Pack 3, get ready for this: once installed over an existing older version (beta 1), Internet Explorer (IE) 8 beta 2 cannot be uninstalled, much in the same way you cannot uninstall Internet Explorer 7 on the said operating system. Only a system restoration or re-installation (if you have System Restore disabled) can fix it. What's more, Microsoft displays IE 8 beta 2 like it's the "current version" of the browser and IE 7 (final release, stable version) as a "previous version". If you happened to have IE 8 beta 1, and updated from Service Pack 2 to 3, uninstall beta 1 before "trying out" beta 2, as listed on the IEBlog at MSDN. You will be shown a confirmation dialog box before its installation:

If you chose to continue, Windows XP SP3 and IE8 Beta2 will become permanent. You will still be able to upgrade to later IE8 builds as they become available, but you won’t be able to uninstall them.

To avoid getting into this situation, we strongly encourage you to follow these steps before installing Internet Explorer Beta 2:

1. Uninstall Windows XP SP3
2. Uninstall IE8 Beta1
3. Re- install Windows XP SP3
4. Install IE8 Beta2

Source: TG Daily

[alexp999]

So if I'm reading this right it only affects you if you have tried out IE 8 beta 1?
So if you have IE7 on SP3, you can try beta 2, then if you want to go back to IE7, you can?

[blueskynis]

I remember I couldn't uninstall IE8 beta 1 from Vista either....

[johnnyfiive]

^^^ I have XP SP2 and I can't uninstall IE8. This is my work computer thankfully.

[mullered07]

whats the beta 2 version like anyway to people who have/are trying it?

fancy trying it out, although dont want it if its still buggy as hell and its a ballache to remove as i have only ie7 on my pc, so getting rid (with system restore off) would be a process i dont feel the need to do especially today as ive spent about 5 hours building one pc and transferring one to a new case (i like to take my time and do wire managment )

[mdm-adph]

Microsoft,if you're listening (and I know you are, though you don't care):

Will you please, please -- for the love of all that's holy -- uncouple your browser from your operating system, so we don't have to deal with crap like this?

[FreedomEclipse]

just as well my machine isnt compatible with SP3 anyway (think i may install it on my laptop soon after its been repaired)

[AsphyxiA]

why not just not mess around with IE cause we all know it sucks anyway. Why not just download Firefox or Opera. And whoever says that IE is faster and safer is full of sh*t and they haven't played with the extensions in firefox yet.

[EastCoasthandle]

Any negative side effects with this beta 2 (BSOD, etc)?

[ShadowFold]

Microsoft should integrate FireFox into Windows and pay them. Or something.

[oli_ramsay]

Opera FTW!

IE is the biggest POS ever, I had Beta 1 and I couldn't uninstall it. All images were automatically zoomed at 110% and looked fucked up. Lack of keyboard shortcuts, usability and general POSiness forces me and others to use Opera or Firefox. Quit working on IE and improve your OSes instead!!!!!!

[EastCoasthandle]

I gave it a thought, now I'll wait.

[xfire]

Originally Posted by FreedomEclipse

just as well my machine isnt compatible with SP3 anyway (think i may install it on my laptop soon after its been repaired)

There's a patch for installing SP3 on systems with AMD's. It's called KB953356

[ShiBDiB]

really... who uses ie? Firefox<3

[FreedomEclipse]

Originally Posted by xfire

There's a patch for installing SP3 on systems with AMD's. It's called KB953356

it doesnt matter - SP3 has a specific issue with my motherboard which ive trawled millions of forums to find a solution to but there is none,

(think it was something to do with the power features on my mobo)

at the end of the day - Asus have long stopped supporting my mobo - the last Bios was a beta & there were no more official bio's after that

[xfire]

Originally Posted by FreedomEclipse

it doesnt matter - SP3 has a specific issue with my motherboard which ive trawled millions of forums to find a solution to but there is none,

(think it was something to do with the power features on my mobo)

at the end of the day - Asus have long stopped supporting my mobo - the last Bios was a beta & there were no more official bio's after that

If its power features disable ACPI in bios.

[mlupple]

That's the risk you take when participating in Betas.

[Error 404]

I'll try it out, as I havn't tried Beta 1 yet and I have Opera as my main browser anyway.
Does Beta 2 remove IE7, or does IE7 still work along side it?

[Disruptor4]

Pfft... imo firefox is worse than IE.
Opera ftw though.

[kodlan]

Don't install IE! Install FF or Opera!!

[alexp999]

Can we stick to contructive posts people, pleases dont start rants on which browser you prefer/hate.
Maybe some suggestions for what you'd like to see or what you think of the browsers new features.
If you dont like IE, and have nothing constructive to say, dont post!

[Wile E]

Originally Posted by Error 404

I'll try it out, as I havn't tried Beta 1 yet and I have Opera as my main browser anyway.
Does Beta 2 remove IE7, or does IE7 still work along side it?

It removes it. It offers an IE7 compatibility mode instead.

And @ Kodlan, do you realize that one of the goals of IE8 is to become more standards compliant? You, as a developer, should be happy to see this coming down the pipeline.

[Error 404]

Ok, I've installed IE8 and here's what I've found so far (in comparison to Opera):
It loads a few seconds faster from a cold start than opera.
It takes about 25-33% more time to load a web page, but that puts it in the same league as firefox for me.
Scrolling up or down is slower (remember, I have a slooooow laptop), but bearable.
RAM usage is just under twice that of Opera (52 MB compared to Opera's 28.5 MB).
The new features are actually quite useful; the Accelerators could really catch on IMO, and the web slices would be excellent for online auctions and forums.
Compatibility is almost flawless, except for youtube videos on Hack A Day.
All in all, I think its quite good.

[kodlan]

And @ Kodlan, do you realize that one of the goals of IE8 is to become more standards compliant? You, as a developer, should be happy to see this coming down the pipeline.

Sorry for the previous post it was a little over-excited 8).
When I hear that some M$ product is going to be "more standards compliant" it makes me a little confused =). Because you don't really know which standart they will choose. Their own or industry standarts?

[mdm-adph]

Originally Posted by Wile E

And @ Kodlan, do you realize that one of the goals of IE8 is to become more standards compliant? You, as a developer, should be happy to see this coming down the pipeline.

The rate at which they're adopting existing standards is being negated by the rate at which they're introducing new, Windows-specific, incompatible standards. As always.

IE8 has made some great strides towards compatibility, and I can tell there's some good people on the IE team making that happen, but it seems to me that there's higher-ups constantly forcing the adaption of things to screw up what could be a half-way decent browser.