Internet Explorer 7.0 Beta 2 Standalone is available
In response to Shaun (Jan 31, 2006), I took some time to try to get the new IE7b2 release working.
This is the download package that was made available as the Internet Explorer 7.0 Beta 2 Public Preview. This version of IE7 writes a couple of keys to your registry.
Don’t try to run the iexplore.exe like you have in the past (even with the standalones). Instead, run the __RUN_ME.bat file. This will make sure that the above-mentioned registry entries are removed, and will automatically add the .local file, etc.
I had a problem for a while where IE7 would “flicker-quit”. As in, a window would display for a fraction of a second, and then quit. This is the only package that worked for me, but even then it didn’t work at first. Here’s what I was doing when it magically began working.
- I ran the normal iexplore.exe file
- I ran the __RUN_ME.bat file (didn’t work, btw)
- Went into the update folder, and double-clicked the IE icon. It started the installer.
- Went back to the root folder and tried __RUN_ME.bat again.
- Out of frustration, ran __RUN_ME.bat yet again just so that I could get angrier at the IE team.
- IE7b2 magically worked.
I’m still not sure which part of my voodoo worked, but I have it running. I may have had some problems because I was previously running the IE7b1 standalone.
This is completely unsupported — completely. The official word from Microsoft is that we shouldn’t be running them in standalone mode anyways.
Stop yelling at me like that! You’re preaching to the choir, brother (or sister)! I know that Microsoft really needs to release official standalone packages for developers to work and test with that are available from MSDN, and not intended for public consumption. But I don’t make the rules—I just break the bad ones.
When Microsoft said “your potential, our passion”, they weren’t talking about web designers. But maybe they should have been… How’s this for an idea: Microsoft has been pretty responsive to our requests for a better browser with IE7. How about we bombard them with comments and such letting them know that we want our standalone mode in order to fix the mess they made in the first place.
Here’s the URL for the IE Blog. Let them know how you feel. Pester the crap out of Chris Wilson, Al Billings, and the rest of the ’softies that simply barking “unsupported” is unacceptable, and that they need to help us fix the problem by either producing official IE standalones, or by not making it so freaking hard to make happen.
«Update» The zipped package now uses version 1.4 of the IE Launch Script. Now supports conditional comments.
Comment by Ryan Parman
2 Feb 2006 at 4:54 pm
Joe,
I’m not trying to start crap with anyone. If Microsoft won’t release them, then somebody else needs to. I’m not harming Microsoft in any way, I’m simply helping the web designers that Microsoft is making things difficult for.
And if you really have a problem with it, why don’t you stop being an anonymous coward?
Comment by Jon Galloway
3 Feb 2006 at 8:00 am
Ryan -
Make sure to grab the latest batch file from my post. I’ve updated it a few times; the latest one is version 1.3. It should take care of the flicker problem - it removes the IE7 registry entries both before and after IE7 is run in standalone mode, which fixes the standalone mode flicker.
- Jon
Comment by Ryan Parman 3 Feb 2006 at 8:35 am
Joe –
I already did this morning. You’ve done an awesome job here! Thanks!
Comment by Geoffrey Sneddon
3 Feb 2006 at 8:44 am
Freckin’ hell!
I’m can’t be bothered to do anything that bloody complex, I’ll just duplicate my VPC disk image and install it normally :p (ah, the wonders of VPC :))
Comment by Ryan Parman 3 Feb 2006 at 9:21 am
You mean, unzip, and double-click __RUN_ME.bat?
Comment by Geoffrey Sneddon 3 Feb 2006 at 2:43 pm
When I first read it seemed like you had to do all the things you did to magically get it working, but reading it again, and I realise I am once again an idiot 
Comment by Jon Galloway 8 Feb 2006 at 10:37 am
There’s a new version to the launch script which supports conditionals () based on a reader comment.
http://weblogs.asp.net/jgalloway/archive/2005/12/28/434132.aspx
Comment by John Galow
15 Feb 2006 at 9:17 pm
There is a VBScript version of the batch file and the good thing about is that you don’t see the console window while using IE7.
http://vivekjishtu.blogspot.com/2006/02/run-ie7-beta-2-standalone-in-5-easy.html
Comment by Jon Galloway 16 Feb 2006 at 9:54 am
That’s funny - I didn’t leave the above comment, but it looks like someone wanted it to look that way. I’ve tried the VBS version and it works pretty well. It doesn’t delete iexplore.exe.local file after it runs, but it does allow you to run IE6 and IE7 at the same time. I haven’t tested it for stability, but it might be a better approach.
Pingback by Multiple Versions of Internet Explorer at Skyzyx: Flailing Wildly 20 Feb 2006 at 9:29 am
[...] « Update: Feb 16, 2006 » Looking for IE7 info? Find it here: Internet Explorer 7.0 Beta 2 Standalone is available [...]
Comments for this post are now closed.
Comment by Joe from Microsoft 2 Feb 2006 at 4:35 pm
You do realize that it is illegal (intellectual property laws) to redistribute someone else’s software if their licensing rules don’t allow for it, right?
→ Permalink