Description of Internet Explorer application and website compatibility

Website compatibility

Windows Internet Explorer 8 and Internet Explorer 9 improve browser interoperability and advance the web by delivering a better implementation of web standards so that Internet Explorer complies with Web 2.0 standards. Although this is a move in the best 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, and text.
 

Add-in and Plugin compatibility

Browser add-ins and plug-ins can sometimes interfere with or conflict with Internet Explorer 8 and Internet Explorer 9 or with other software on your computer. To check for compatibility issues, start Internet Explorer without add-ins and test to see whether the problem still occurs. If the issue still occurs, troubleshoot add-ins to determine which one causes the issue.

To run Internet Explorer in No Add-ons mode, follow these steps:

1. Click Start, and then type Internet Explorer in the Start Search box.
   
   (Windows XP users: Click Start, right-click Internet Explorer, and then click Browse without Add-ons.)

2. Click Internet Explorer (No Add-ons). Internet Explorer opens without add-ins, toolbars, or plug-ins.

3. Test Internet Explorer to verify that it works correctly.
    

Use Add-on Manager to enable and disable individual or multiple add-ins to troubleshoot and determine which add-in is causing the problem.

1. Start Internet Explorer.

2. Click Tools.

3. Click Manage Add-ons, and then click Enable or Disable Add-ons.

4. For each add-in, select the add-in, and then click Disable. When you want to enable an add-in, click Enable.

5. Click OK.

Application compatibility

Application compatibility issues can occur if an application interferes with processes that are used by Internet Explorer to communicate with websites or with other network resources. To troubleshoot these application issues, close or disable all running applications, and then start those applications individually and test the issue in Internet Explorer. These applications can include but are not limited to the following:

• Third-party firewall applications

• Security applications

• Antivirus applications

• Spyware and malware applications

• Communications applications

• Hardware and software drivers

Compatibility View in Internet Explorer 8 and in Internet Explorer 9

Compatibility View resolves most website 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 as expected, follow these steps:

1. In Internet Explorer, open the website that is not displayed correctly or that does not work as expected.

2. Click the Compatibility View icon. This icon is located to the right of the address bar. Or, click Compatibility View on the Tools menu.

Web sites selected for Compatibility View

Internet Explorer remembers sites that you choose to view in Compatibility View so that the next time that you go to these sites, you do not have to click the button again. You can clear this list when you delete browsing history by following these steps:

1. In Internet Explorer, click Tools, and then click Internet Options.

2. Click Delete.

3. Click the History check box (if it is not already selected), and then click Delete.

For more information about Compatibility View in Internet Explorer 8, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

960321 Description of the Compatibility View list in Windows Internet Explorer 8For more information about Compatibility View in Windows Internet Explorer 9, see Compatibility View.

Applications that have known compatibility issues

Accelerators or Web Slices

Accelerator and Web Slice preview windows will display the “Internet Explorer cannot display the webpage” error if you have Google Gears installed. This is a known issue in Internet Explorer 8 and Internet Explorer 9.

For more information, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

969213 Error message when using Accelerators or Web Slices in Internet Explorer 8: “Internet Explorer cannot display the web page"
Cooliris

Internet Explorer 8 and Internet Explorer 9 display a compatibility warning when certain versions of the Cooliris (formerly known as PicLens) add-in are installed. This issue occurs because Internet Explorer 8 and Internet Explorer 9 and specific versions of this add-in are incompatible, and the installation is unstable. When you disable this add-in, the functionality that this product provides is removed.

For more information and for updates, go to the following website:
 

http://www.cooliris.com/product/

For more information, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

969057 How to fix the Cooliris add-on and Internet Explorer 8 incompatibility
Google Desktop

When you try to browse the Internet by using Internet Explorer 8 and Google Desktop is installed on the computer, you may receive the following error message:

This issue may occur if you have a version earlier than Google Desktop 4.5 ("5.0.0611.15590") installed on the computer. To resolve this issue, install Google Desktop version 4.5 ("5.0.0611.15590") or a later version.

To download the Google Desktop, visit the following website:

http://google-desktop.en.softonic.com
Google Toolbar

Internet Explorer 8 and Internet Explorer 9 display a compatibility warning when certain versions of the Google Toolbar add-in are installed. This issue occurs because Internet Explorer 8 and specific versions of this add-in are incompatible, and the installation is unstable. When you disable this add-in, the functionality that this product provides is removed.

For more information and for updates, visit the following website:
 

http://toolbar.google.com/tbredir?r=ie8_upgrade For more information, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

968136 Google Toolbar causes an error message and does not start in Internet Explorer HP Smart Web Printing

Internet Explorer 8 and Internet Explorer 9 display a compatibility warning when certain versions of the HP Smart Web Printing add-in are installed. This issue occurs because Internet Explorer and specific versions of this add-in are incompatible, and the installation is unstable. When you disable this add-in, the functionality that this product provides is removed.

For more information and for updates, go to the following website:

http://h71036.www7.hp.com/hho/cache/482779-0-0-225-121.html?jumpid=hpr_R1002_USEN For more information, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

969227 HP Smart Web Printing error message occurs in Internet Explorer The Internet Explorer Developer Toolbar is incompatible with Internet Explorer 8 and with Internet Explorer 9

The Internet Explorer Developer Toolbar that was used together with earlier versions of Internet Explorer is incompatible with Internet Explorer 8 and with Internet Explorer 9. If you have it installed when you upgrade to Internet Explorer 8 or Internet Explorer 9, you will receive a message that the toolbar is incompatible.

The Developer Toolbar was replaced by the built-in Internet Explorer 8 or Internet Explorer 9 developer tools. To start using the developer tools, do one of the following:

• Start Internet Explorer, and then press F12.

• Start Internet Explorer, click Tools, and then click Developer Tools.

Intuit TurboTax Online

Currently, Internet Explorer 8 and Internet Explorer 9 are not fully supported by Intuit for use with the TurboTax Online program.

Java 6 update 11 recommended for viewing Java Applets

Older versions of Java may cause crashes when you view pages that load Java Applets. To resolve this, install Java 6 update 11 or later. For more information, see Install Java in Internet Explorer.


PDFCreator

When you start Internet Explorer 8 or Internet Explorer 9, you may receive an error message that resembles the following message:
 

For more information, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

968916 The PDFCreator toolbar add-on may not be compatible with Internet Explorer 8 Real Networks RealPlayer 11

There is a known program compatibility issue that occurs when you use Real Networks RealPlayer 11 with Internet Explorer 8 or Internet Explorer 9 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 or Internet Explorer 9 .

For more information, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

957055 In Windows Vista SP1 or Windows Server 2008, when you try to play a video by using embedded RealNetworks RealPlayer 11 in Internet Explorer 8 Beta, you are prompted to download RealPlayer even though RealPlayer is successfully installed To install Internet Explorer 8 or Internet Explorer 9 together with RealPlayer 11, you must install RealPlayer 11 before you install Internet Explorer 8 or Internet Explorer 9.

If you install RealPlayer 11 after you install Internet Explorer 8 or Internet Explorer 9, you may experience some program compatibility issues. To resolve these issues, uninstall Internet Explorer, and then reinstall it.

Roxio Drive Letter Access

Internet Explorer 8 and Internet Explorer 9 display a compatibility warning when certain versions of the Drive Letter Access (DLA) add-in are installed. This issue occurs because Internet Explorer 8 RC1 and specific versions of this add-in are incompatible, and the installation is unstable. When you disable this add-in, the main functionality of the DLA product is unaffected.

For more information and for updates, visit the following Roxio website:

http://www.roxio.com/enu/products/dla/overview.html For more information, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

969228 How to fix the Drive Letter Access and Internet Explorer 8 incompatibility problem UPromise TurboSaver

Internet Explorer 8 and Internet Explorer 9 display a compatibility warning when certain versions of the UPromise TurboSaver add-in are installed. This issue occurs because Internet Explorer 8 and Internet Explorer 9 and specific versions of this add-in are incompatible, and the installation is unstable. When you disable this add-in, the functionality that this product provides is removed.

No update to UPromise TurboSaver is currently available. Please see http://www.upromise.com/turbosaver for updates.


You will have to temporarily disable the UPromise TurboSaver add-in until the manufacturer resolves this issue. To disable the add-in, follow these steps:

1. Close all Internet Explorer windows.

2. Open a new Internet Explorer window.

3. Click Always open Internet Explorer without this add-on when you see a warning message about the incompatible UPromise TurboSaver add-in.

Note After you click Always open Internet Explorer without this add-on, Internet Explorer 8 or Internet Explorer 9 will not load the UPromise TurboSaver add-in. UPromise TurboSaver will not work correctly when the add-in is disabled.

Windows Live Photo Gallery

Windows Live Mail or Internet Explorer 8 may fail when you uninstall or upgrade Windows Live Photo Gallery.

For more information, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

969148 Uninstalling or upgrading Windows Live Photo Gallery may cause Windows Live Mail or Internet Explorer 8 to fail Skype

Internet Explorer 8 and Internet Explorer 9 display a compatibility warning when certain versions of the Skype add-in are installed. This issue occurs because Internet Explorer and specific versions of this add-in are incompatible, and the installation is unstable. When you disable this add-in, the main functionality of the Skype product is unaffected. Make sure that your version of the Skype add-in is 2.2.0.193 or a later version.

For more information and for updates, visit the following Skype website:
 

http://www.skype.com For more information, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

968129 Error message about the Skype 3.8 IE Plugin when you start Internet Explorer 8: "Internet Explorer 8 is in a special no-add-ons mode so that you can fix a compatibility problem with Skype 3.8 IE Plugin" Snapfish Photo Uploader Toolbar

The Snapfish Photo Uploader Toolbar does not currently work with Internet Explorer 8 or Internet Explorer 9. 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:
 

http://www.snapfish.comWeather Channel

Weather Channel Toolbar is currently incompatible with Windows Internet Explorer 8 and Internet Explorer 9. This incompatibility causes Internet Explorer to crash.

For more information, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

969226 A compatibility problem exists between Weather Channel Toolbar and Internet Explorer 8 Browsing websites by using Internet Explorer 8 and Internet Explorer 9

You may experience some of the following issues while browsing websites in Internet Explorer 8 or in Internet Explorer 9. Each issue also contains a link to a Microsoft Knowledge Base Article to help resolve those issues.
 

• Cannot browse specific Web pages when you use Internet Explorer 8 or Internet Explorer 9
  For more information, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

  967897 Cannot access some websites in Internet Explorer

• Cannot view a secure Web site in Internet Explorer 8 or Internet Explorer 9
  For more information, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

  968089 You cannot view a secure Web site in Internet Explorer 8

• Web sites may not be displayed correctly or work correctly in Internet Explorer 8 or Internet Explorer 9
  For more information, see Why are some webpages blank or incorrectly displayed in Internet Explorer?

Additional troubleshooting information

Reset Internet Explorer settings
923737 How to reset Internet Explorer settings


Additional Resources
949787 Release Notes for Internet Explorer 8

If you still have problems with Internet Explorer 8 and need additional support, Contact a support professional by email, online, or telephone.