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Microsoft Internet Explorer 8 has been released and is now being rolled out as part of the normal automatic Windows security update process. Unfortunately for many, the installation of IE8 has actually broken the browser and made it useless. My younger brother called me this morning with this problem, and I asked him to come to the office so I can get a firsthand look.

He has a Gateway notebook that is about two years running Windows XP.

Problem

This mysterious problem of IE8 not working has been echoed by several TechRepublic members to me in private messages and in the Community Forums. I have not pinned down the exact cause, but in my brother’s situation, the problem was frustrating on several levels.

First, the symptoms of this problem don’t allow for much troubleshooting analysis. Internet Explorer 8 starts as if everything is fine until it tries to load a Web page. At that point it freezes into a continuous connecting mode and stops responding to commands. There is no error code or other indication of how to correct or proceed.

The second frustrating problem involves the Control Panel | Add Remove Programs applet. The installation of IE8 on my brother’s PC apparently did not progress enough to actually be listed in the tool to be removed or uninstalled.

Solution

There were two choices at this point: forget Internet Explorer and use Mozilla Firefox exclusively or uninstall IE8 and return to Internet Explorer 7.

For the sake of knowledge and this blog, we opted for choice number two, but my guess is that most will opt for Firefox, and I can’t say that I blame them at this point.

However, for our purposes, here is how we had to proceed.

The first thing I had to do was get the installation file for the Windows XP version of Internet Explorer 8. Once that was downloaded, I reinstalled it to the Gateway notebook. The process involved about 30 minutes and two restarts to complete.

My hope was that this process would install a working Internet Explorer 8. It did not. IE8 behaved the same as before: it would not load a Web page and stopped responding to commands. However, the most important thing was accomplished because Internet Explorer 8 was now on the list of Add Remove Programs in the Control Panel.

I used that entry to uninstall IE8 and return Internet Explorer to the previous version. A few minutes and a reboot later, IE7 was back and running as expected.

Your experience

This has been my experience, or at least that of my brother’s, but I am wondering what your experience has been. I don’t know if this is confined to Windows XP or if there is some other factor involved. I only know that this is certainly not the user experience Microsoft was looking for.

On my own personal computers, I have upgraded my notebook running Vista to Internet Explorer 8 without any problems at all. But I have not taken the chance on another PC yet. In addition to my brother’s story, I have had several reports of IE8 not working at all after installation, which gives me pause.

What about you? Did you get a bad Internet Explorer 8 install? How did you fix the problem? Did you go back to IE7? Did you just drop Internet Explorer and make Firefox your default browser? Let us know what is going on out in the real world.

Did you get the broken Internet Explorer 8 install?

  • No (55%)
  • Yes (45%)

Total Votes: 2,406

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Mark Kaelin is a CBS Interactive Senior Editor for TechRepublic. He is the host for the Microsoft Windows blog, Product Spotlight blog, and the editor for Cracking Open Photo Galleries. Read his full bio and profile. You can also follow him on Twitter.

Print/View all Posts Comments on this blog

Internet Explorer 8 bad install Mark W. KaelinTechrepublic Moderator | 03/27/09
Tried IE8 and had to re-install IE7 nwoommavovah@... | 03/27/09
IE 8 nimrod666 | 03/30/09
I had the same bad experience with IE8. Some business files would not open jeannet@... | 03/31/09
IE 8 is great and fast william.bondy@... | 04/02/09
I will Bash It k_indy@... | 04/02/09
I'll bash it too! bill@... | 04/02/09
But they did test it.... vandchaynes@... | 04/02/09
Is that how you respond to your team having issues?? kmdennis@... | 04/02/09
hmmm william.bondy@... | 04/02/09
Hehehe? BradTD | 04/02/09
Just a personal observation/opinion here john3347@... | 04/03/09
No Need to Apologize mattie289404@... | 04/20/09
I agree re: professionalism Varseller | 04/02/09
Installed with security directions glakes@... | 04/02/09
I will bash it. Will_B | 04/08/09
ie8-garbage rcgaard@... | 04/14/09
IE 8 - Definitely v1.0 admvader@... | 04/16/09
My IE8 closes on start up scratch67@... | 04/02/09
Broken IE8 DrRich492337 | 04/02/09
Broken IE8 edit@... | 04/02/09
Help with uninstall of IE8 kirk227@... | 04/08/09
This also happened to me. richard7@... | 04/21/09
i solved it i think greenlight_mix@... | 04/25/09
Hint: Remove your email address seanferd | 04/25/09
The only problem is... JCitizen | 04/25/09
How do I get IE7 back? koolerbear2@... | 04/02/09
reverse the install by... menzelrc@... | 04/02/09
Me Too Willie11 | 04/02/09
IE 8 was written to be more standards compliant jhoffmaster@... | 04/02/09
Standards Compliant - HA! Thomas Moser | 04/16/09
IE8 needs work! womantic14u | 06/30/09
By any chance... wanttocancel | 03/28/09
Can be uninstall issues seanferd | 03/29/09
Yes, this was the problem I ran into.. JCitizen | 04/19/09
Try regsvr32 actxprxy.dll seanferd | 04/19/09
Great!.. JCitizen | 04/19/09
Yep! It worked! ... :) JCitizen | 04/24/09
I have found that The Scummy One | 03/28/09
How to ensure a good install of IE onclejon@... | 04/02/09
IE Install BFilmFan | 03/29/09
Good questions Mark W. KaelinTechrepublic Moderator | 03/30/09
IE8 will not open up richard7@... | 03/29/09
Re-registering actxprxy.dll helped me M.W.H. | 03/30/09
Try Minefield Varseller | 04/05/09
Installed Fine But... rickk@... | 03/30/09
Similar problem mveh@... | 04/02/09
Same issue here drumbeat | 04/02/09
Same Issue Here brian.swlaurier@... | 04/02/09
I'll Ignore the Update vern.hoffman@... | 03/30/09
cheated.. slightly! scottneale1@... | 03/30/09
IE8 problems jim_d@... | 03/30/09
IE8 Install Success lkuhnle@... | 03/31/09
No problem at all julioa.morales@... | 03/31/09
Identical problem george_stars@... | 03/31/09
Internet Explorer 8 bad install deepak.aggrawal@... | 03/31/09
bad MSN IE8 installation suewhitehead@... | 04/01/09
no probs installing but.... kermit_d_froggy@... | 04/02/09
RE: Bad Install pmdirico@... | 04/02/09
IE 8 johnfallon96@... | 04/02/09
Re Internet Explorer 8 bad install gtriever@... | 04/02/09
Total System Crash paulb@... | 04/02/09
Here is how to fix it Andy.kaisrlik@... | 04/02/09
I just ran FixIT on the installation.. JCitizen | 04/19/09
Same thing happened to me kimbaslair@... | 04/02/09
Internet Explorer 8 bad install ?????? TechZ5 | 04/02/09
Upgrade ? jamesdtuttle@... | 04/02/09
Typical Microsoft Premature release of software diamondphoenix@... | 04/02/09
Surprised? RG Bargy | 04/02/09
No way I'm doing that with my clients... JCitizen | 04/19/09
My install stopped during the install leen@... | 04/02/09
Re: Internet Explorer 8 bad install caryyy | 04/02/09
IE8 wait before you install ap@... | 04/02/09
Internet Explorer 8 bad install cwenger@... | 04/02/09
You should have probably done that... JCitizen | 04/19/09
Not all worked properly pasound50@... | 04/02/09
So Far So Good Keith Hailey | 04/02/09
Good install, bad browser putergurl@... | 04/02/09
Jumped from IE6 to IE8 compstar@... | 04/02/09
Friend had some problem and called... menzelrc@... | 04/02/09
IE & Firefox - no way rwheel@... | 04/02/09
Installed fine but was not reliable MikeBytes@... | 04/02/09
No compatibility view button?... JCitizen | 04/19/09
Reinstalled IE8 and run updates with the install Richard.gless@... | 04/02/09
Did you uninstall the old version when updating... JCitizen | 04/19/09
Installed the New I Explorer 8 Aaron A Baker | 04/02/09
IE 8 in Private mode? sparkcad | 04/03/09
Go to the grc site, they may have a test for this... JCitizen | 04/19/09
some sites will not load billy.munsey@... | 04/03/09
USATODAY works fo me kenhowey@... | 04/04/09
usatoday billy.munsey@... | 04/05/09
Try compatibility view button... JCitizen | 04/19/09
I E 8 will only install correctly is the sytem is prepped right onclejon@... | 04/04/09
These steps _should_ be unnecessary. SimonUK2 | 04/18/09
Uninstall IE8 eberhard.bohn@... | 04/06/09
Internet Explorer 8 bad install 320vu50@... | 04/06/09
Internet Explorer 8 athineos59 | 04/08/09
Internet Explorer 8 bad install jglmisc@... | 04/14/09
tell me mayesjampri@... | 04/20/09
How to fix a bad Interney Explorer 8 Install onclejon@... | 04/22/09
DEP errors brussellradio | 04/23/09
MSIA & IE8 (Printing/Page Setup).... stuart.wood@... | 05/02/09
Typed URL's cbader@... | 05/09/09
Internet Explorer 8 and DEP error Usernametech | 05/19/09
Finally Gave It Up cbader@... | 05/19/09
Remove toolbars (Google, MSN, etc.) Jwilson484 | 05/19/09
Remove Toolbars (Google, MSN, etc.) Jwilson484 | 05/19/09
RE: Microsoft Internet Explorer 8 install is broken beldar33@... | 03/27/09
Thanks, but I'm looking for information Mark W. KaelinTechrepublic Moderator | 03/27/09
Elicit, not illicit DWalker88001 | 03/30/09
Doh! Mark W. KaelinTechrepublic Moderator | 03/30/09
RE:IE8 Install problem rsrusa@... | 04/02/09
Unfortunately your expressed argument doesn't hold water HAL 9000 | 03/27/09
Part of the Updates... techr@... | 03/30/09
"It's like calling Vista a security update to XP." The Maverick Phantom Wanderer (formerly Macoza, Nodice, KP, etc.) | 03/30/09
Better than paying the licence costs Oz_Media | 03/31/09
We are not stupid users paulrw@... | 04/02/09
Unrelated but - Vista IS a security update for XP Oz_Media | 03/31/09
i agree Col, but.... Oz_Media | 03/31/09
OZ i had a customer who did exactly that HAL 9000 | 04/02/09
poll nimrod666 | 03/30/09
Works for me........ rasilon | 03/28/09
RE: Microsoft Internet Explorer 8 install is broken comments3@... | 03/28/09
Installed, but still problems comments3@... | 03/29/09
Roxio and Iomega BFilmFan | 03/29/09
IE Add-ons stuart.wood@... | 03/30/09
RE: Microsoft Internet Explorer 8 install is broken loneraptor@... | 03/29/09
RE: Microsoft Internet Explorer 8 install is broken sp4566@... | 03/29/09
RE: Microsoft Internet Explorer 8 install is broken alictrifying@... | 03/30/09
RE: Microsoft Internet Explorer 8 install is broken smaratha | 03/30/09
RE: Microsoft Internet Explorer 8 install is broken garyu203@... | 03/30/09
I always wait a while before trying sidekick | 03/30/09
RE: Microsoft Internet Explorer 8 install is broken bhajankirtan@... | 03/30/09
RE: Microsoft Internet Explorer 8 install is broken Graham4mon | 03/30/09
Agreed A.Machiraju@... | 04/02/09
IE 8 on Windows 7 and Java sstehno@... | 04/02/09
RE: Microsoft Internet Explorer 8 install is broken lorne.meikle@... | 03/30/09
RE: Microsoft Internet Explorer 8 install is broken maghuine | 03/30/09
RE: Microsoft Internet Explorer 8 install is broken redalanevans@... | 03/30/09
RE: Microsoft Internet Explorer 8 install is broken a.abosaif | 03/31/09
Have you tried the dll fix? kengelbrecht@... | 03/31/09
Didn't work george_stars@... | 03/31/09
My IE8 installed fine, I still uninstalled it however SinisterSlay | 03/31/09
RE: Microsoft Internet Explorer 8 install is broken faisal_kaleem@... | 03/31/09
RE: Microsoft Internet Explorer 8 install is broken bcullen@... | 04/01/09
RE: Microsoft Internet Explorer 8 install is broken charly512tr@... | 04/02/09
RE: Microsoft Internet Explorer 8 install is broken dhadcock@... | 04/02/09
RE: Microsoft Internet Explorer 8 install is broken AJNorth02 | 04/02/09
RE: Microsoft Internet Explorer 8 install is broken twinhill | 04/02/09
Plugins/addons ps2goat | 04/02/09
IE8 Crash Loop david.k.sanders@... | 04/02/09
IE8 Crash Loop MaskOfTEAM | 04/02/09
RE: Microsoft Internet Explorer 8 install is broken dtpge@... | 04/02/09
RE: Microsoft Internet Explorer 8 install is broken bryanjam@... | 04/02/09
RE: Microsoft Internet Explorer 8 install is broken am224@... | 04/02/09
RE: Microsoft Internet Explorer 8 install is broken mikegregory1937@... | 04/02/09
RE: Microsoft Internet Explorer 8 install is broken stborer@... | 04/02/09
RE: Microsoft Internet Explorer 8 install is broken jus.rolfe@... | 04/02/09
Do you people even talk together? nordlogic | 04/02/09
No They Don't Have Time or Resources mattie289404@... | 04/02/09
Upgrade Adobe Flash Player 1st !!!!! ele@... | 04/02/09
Stumbled on similar fix DesertOutlaw | 04/02/09
RE: Microsoft Internet Explorer 8 install is broken hclark@... | 04/02/09
RE: Microsoft Internet Explorer 8 install is broken scott.buechler@... | 04/02/09
Re:IE 8 Broken jhelliott@... | 04/02/09
RE: Microsoft Internet Explorer 8 install is broken g.overly@... | 04/02/09
Can't even get it to install 320vu50@... | 04/02/09
RE: Microsoft Internet Explorer 8 install is broken LanceNoie@... | 04/02/09
RE: Microsoft Internet Explorer 8 install is broken piguy3point14@... | 04/02/09
IE8 works for me kenhowey@... | 04/02/09
Same Here donald1j@... | 04/04/09
RE: Microsoft Internet Explorer 8 install is broken ebarrows@... | 04/02/09
RE: Microsoft Internet Explorer 8 install is broken stephanie@... | 04/02/09
RE:IE 8 craynichols@... | 04/02/09
RE: Microsoft Internet Explorer 8 install is broken rvsullne@... | 04/02/09
RE: Microsoft Internet Explorer 8 install is broken AP_Stylebook | 04/02/09
RE: Microsoft Internet Explorer 8 install is broken jerryew@... | 04/02/09
RE: Microsoft Internet Explorer 8 install is broken rkpmailman@... | 04/02/09
Problems shutting down after IE8 ssotton@... | 04/02/09
IE8 works nicely; only one bad experience! MVR5000 | 04/02/09
RE: Microsoft Internet Explorer 8 install is broken Thumper1 | 04/02/09
RE: Microsoft Internet Explorer 8 install is broken danilo_supertramp@... | 04/02/09
RE: Microsoft Internet Explorer 8 install is broken john3347@... | 04/02/09
IE8 does not install hasanatkhan | 04/02/09
RE: Microsoft Internet Explorer 8 install is broken bilk24@... | 04/02/09
RE: Microsoft Internet Explorer 8 install is broken kengharthun@... | 04/02/09
IE8 bad coding Jaytmoon | 04/02/09
RE: Microsoft Internet Explorer 8 install is broken rflorkesr@... | 04/02/09
RE: Microsoft Internet Explorer 8 install is broken jerzzat | 04/02/09
RE: Microsoft Internet Explorer 8 install is broken ibm_mf_pro_4hire@... | 04/02/09
RE: Microsoft Internet Explorer 8 install is broken honeylove810@... | 04/02/09
IE8 Beta jerryew@... | 04/06/09
RE: Microsoft Internet Explorer 8 install is broken Cantexan | 04/02/09
"Site Not Found" or sykandtyed | 04/02/09
RE: Microsoft Internet Explorer 8 install is broken raymuhs@... | 04/02/09
RE: Microsoft Internet Explorer 8 install is broken singhsons | 04/02/09
RE: Microsoft Internet Explorer 8 install is broken MICHELNEY@... | 04/02/09
RE: Microsoft Internet Explorer 8 install is broken prescotj@... | 04/02/09
RE: Microsoft Internet Explorer 8 install is broken paul.cook@... | 04/02/09
Not surpirsed - IE7 is broken too. StephenInScotland | 04/03/09
RE: Microsoft Internet Explorer 8 install is broken snroyvskp@... | 04/03/09
MS IE8 Broken & Virus at MS site for IE8 download site acaaleks@... | 04/03/09
RE: Microsoft Internet Explorer 8 install is broken vmorin@... | 04/03/09
RE: Microsoft Internet Explorer 8 install is broken Teako | 04/03/09
RE: Microsoft Internet Explorer 8 install is broken Nils5906@... | 04/03/09
RE: Microsoft Internet Explorer 8 install is broken ksbordoloi@... | 04/03/09
RE: Microsoft Internet Explorer 8 install is broken edenoun@... | 04/04/09
RE: Microsoft Internet Explorer 8 install is broken rgoeken1@... | 04/04/09
RE: Microsoft Internet Explorer 8 install is broken dforce777@... | 04/04/09
Delete the AOL Plug in. HAL 9000 | 04/05/09
RE: Microsoft Internet Explorer 8 install is broken dfarrich@... | 04/05/09
RE: Microsoft Internet Explorer 8 install is broken emcbridea@... | 04/05/09
RE: Microsoft Internet Explorer 8 install is broken miwanr@... | 04/06/09
RE: Microsoft Internet Explorer 8 install is broken michaelhickey60@... | 04/07/09
Just a thought.. VT3333 | 04/16/09
Probably already had SP3 on top of IE 6 then... JCitizen | 04/24/09
RE: Microsoft Internet Explorer 8 install is broken coveycraig@... | 04/26/09
Microsoft you fail! lonelie@... | 04/30/09
IE 8 working swimmingly on my Vista x64.. JCitizen | 05/01/09

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