IE5.1 to IE5.5 or IE6.0

[khaki]

I have a couple of questions regarding IE.

First of all... does anyone know where I can find a place to reliably download IE5.5?
Please don't refer me to Microsoft's site. Only 5.1 and 6.0 are available there anymore.
I want to replace my very buggy 5.1 (which seems to be falling apart for some reason).

In a perfect world, I'd like to install IE5.5 over my current IE5.1 (it keeps me closer to the browser version of my target user). However...

I have never used (or seen) IE6.0. With that said, it probably means that there are still many people that don't use 6.0 as of yet (and especially in corporate environments - which is my main target user).

Since I currently test everything on IE5 and Netscape 6 (and if it all works on those, I assume success), then will I be taking a big chance by installing IE6 and testing with that instead of IE5 (I can't have something look great in v6 and then not realize that it looks like crap in v5)?

So... does IE6 differ in the way it interprets pages... or is it all just bells and whistles and security features and stuff like that?

Anybody able to privide some advice and feedback on this?
(and p l e a s e don't advise me to re-install IE5.1. I've done it again and again and it's just as buggy as ever. I can't figure out why... but beleive me when I tell you that it is. Maybe something to do with the cable-modem software... I have no idea. But it's gotta go!).

By the way... I run W2K (in case that matters).
Thanks as always...

always believes that green beer sounds like a fun and harmless thing... until the following day...
k

[Damien]

Did you have any luck getting IE5.5, if not, I'll put it up on my download site

[DaveSW]

Did I hear someone swear?? I distinctly heard Micr***ft Intern** Expl**** v6.0. :(

Believe me, it's the worst I've ever seen. I was told I had to have v6.0 by the broadband provider, and every five minutes it comes up with a message to say 'error' 'do you wish to send an error report' and i say 'push off'. So it restarts internet explorer, after ofcourse losing the site i was on. Good luck in finding version 5.5!!!!

So. V6 just has a neat error function to lose your place when you're busy. Brill.

Ok. I'm done now.

Dave

[khaki]

Hi Damien...

I'm definitely not having an easy time downloading 5.5 (I've been to a bunch of different sites, but I get all kinds of errors that halt the install... so I'm a bit frazzled at this point.

I'd be willing to try to download it from you if you wouldn't mind (note: never offer me anything unless your willing to follow thru. wink).

Let me know.

As for you Dave...
I'm not looking for a fight in corporate politics (I work in a Microsoft shop and I can't afford the luxory of those ideals).

Actually, I beleive that it was my broadband provider that dumped this buggy 5.1 version on me, so maybe it's more of a broadband issue than anything else (my original 5.1 was fine - although slow, due to running over dial-up - but the version that came with the broadband setup contained it's own version.... and now it sucks.
(and I'm wondering if the trouble that I am having downloading a new version is related to that somehow).

Anyway... please respect the title of my thread and please don't begin an anti-Microsoft vs pro-Microsoft debate.
I just want some help. That's all.
Thanks.

***
DOES ANYONE HAVE A 5.5 DISC?
I PROMISE THAT I WILL SHIP IT RIGHT BACK WHEN I AM DONE. P-L-E-A-S-E ! ! !

k

[DaveSW]

Sorry if that sounded anti-microsoft. it was actually only anti-microsoft version 6. Honest. Just my way of telling you not to go there.

http://5star.freeserve.com/Internet/BrowsersWWW/ie55.html

http://www.babbage.ul.ie/Private/Technical/Staff/Software/Internet%20Explorer%2055sp1.asp


Here's few pages you could try to download it. I can't find a disk with it on - i've got version 3, version 5 and version 6 but nothing in between.

Sorry

Dave

[Damien]

Try this link, it's a big file 50 MB
http://www.xviper.com/download/IE55.zip

[DaveSW]

I can send you version 6 if it's any use to you. I don't think there's any real viewing differences. You could try
http://netmechanic.com/browser-index.htm
if you want to see your pages in different browsers.
Dave

[khalidali63]

K, there could be actually significant differences between IE<6 and >6 browsers.
SInce >-6 browsers are way more standard compliant then <6.
But IE6 has 2 modesone is I guess standard compliant mode and another is not standard compliant mode..

here is one difference I came accross few weeks back.

In IE <6 to get the windows inner height

we did this
innerH = document.body.cleintHeight;

and in IE>=6 standard compliant mode

innerH = document.documentElement.clientHeight

so you can imagine that if we do not upgrade our pages anything that depends on getting pages inner height will be screwed up.

Thats just one eg,

Cheers

Khalid

[khaki]

ugh.
still having so many problems trying to get downloads from these links.

Dave...
Thanks for the links, but the first one crapped-out on me in the same place as all of the others, and the other link dead-ended on me.

The netmachanic thing seems cool... but $150. Maybe my boss will spring for it (yeah, right).

Damien...
I am downloading your file (I've been downloading your file. For about 30 minutes so far). It's so big! (but I can handle it. wink).

Hopefully it will work as a fully contained file (without having to go to an online location for additional files. That's where these links have been crapping-out on me every other time).

I'll let you know how it works.
Thank you soooo much!!!

Khalid...
I pretty much knew that there would be differences, so I didn't want to take a step ahead of my target users. I actually read somewhere about the issue that you reference.
Designing for all of these different browsers is maddening!

Well... I'm at 32/50mb on that file. I'll let you all know how it goes.
Thank you all for your help and your input!

i am a very fortunate girl :) ...
k

[Ribeyed]

hi Khaki,
i have IE5.5 on my ISP install disk, its 500k but still to big to post here, can i ftp it somewhere for you?

[Robert Wellock]

You could try: Try: http://browsers.evolt.org/?ie/32bit

[khaki]

Hi Guys...

I downloaded and ran Damien's big IE5.5 file late yesterday. Unfortunately it wouldn't install over the existing one... so I did something... (uh :eek: oh)
and then...
my computer was gone - poof! - un-bootable, un-recoverable, and un-frickenbelievably not responding to me (note: never delete Internet Explorer... EVER!!!).

5+ hours of boot-up/lock-up, repeat, repeat, repeat, repeat, etc (the Active Desktop seemed to be using 100% of system resources to try to load - which proved futile without any version of IE on the pc. ugh).

Finally Safe Mode worked (after banging the F8 key for hours with no response!). And fortunately, I had so many unfinished IE set-ups that never finished installing that it allowed me to try to resume one of them (set-up eventually crapped-out again... but somehow it got me back to version 5.0 ?!) and now I'm back to the desktop without locking-up. FINALLY!!!
... but version 5.0? (whatever. At least it's running).

And there are all kinds of new buggy things now... like no START/SEARCH/For Files or Folders (what's up with that?!
And my existing Outlook emails are now unnaccessable. When I click on them, I get this: http://www.1dot0.com/khaki/outlook.gif
And I can recieve email Ok (it seems) but I get the following when I try to send email:
http://www.1dot0.com/khaki/outlook_errors.gif
http://www.1dot0.com/khaki/outlook_tasks.gif
And who knows what else that I haven't found yet!!! (i just want to scream!).
I'm so stupid. My problem is that I'm fearless, and not cautious enough.
I know just enough to get in trouble... but never enough to get out of it. I am sooo screwed.

So anyway... here's the remaining problem when I try to run v5.5 again (or any version, actually):
When I run set-up, it immediately gives me this:
http://www.1dot0.com/khaki/not_again.gif
And as long as I dont click "OK", the underlying set-up installation box/screen continues to install the components...
until it reaches 99% installed.
Then it does nothing (stays on 99%).
(like this):
http://www.1dot0.com/khaki/99andnomore.gif
The problem is... if I click OK on the Digital Signature box, set-up does not resume (and I have to start all over again - which just repeats the same thing over and over again. It quits setup and never installs).

Obviously I've severely damaged something
So PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE someone help me!

I know this is really long. But I REALLY need help!
I've injured my baby and now I don't know what to do.

someone please rescue me from this... p-l-e-a-s-e....
:confused: k

[DaveSW]

How about reinstalling Windows over the top? I think if you reinstall it from within windows you don't lose your settings.

Or do my usual trick. (not recommended if you haven't been inside your PC before...) Buy a new hardrive, then install windows. That way, if it goes wrong on the new hardrive, the old one will still be there to check your e-mail.

Maybe

Dave

[khaki]

DAVE!
Seriously!!!???

I thought about doing that (Pyro - sweet, sweet Pyro - was my comfort in my time of panic last night. He suggested that I may be able to do that, but he only knew that it was possible in WinXP. He wasn't sure about W2K).

I really can't afford to lose files or apps (and I don't have a working cd-burner at the moment - or a tape back-up.... just a Zip Drive), so I can't do a proper back-up of my setup).

Do you really think that I can re-install my W2k setup disc and maintain everything I have, while restoring everything that I lost?

I'm going to need to feel pretty confident about that before I attempt to try it (i'm learning to become more cautious now).

Dave (anybody else)... what do you think (and p-l-e-a-s-e don't turn me into a "test case". It has to be successful. I can't afford to be the "lesson learned" girl who found out that it can't be done that way. lol)?

My love for you guys grows every day. Where else can people go for help like this! You are all so wonderful!!!
Please let me know what you think...

touched by the concern and compassion of the good people here...
k

[DaveSW]

I've done it under windows 98

2000 is newer, so it Should work. Wait and see if anyone else has done it under 2000!!

I'll go test again on my old machine

Seriously!!!

Dave

[Damien]

There's an other option to the second hard disk, Can you get your hands on a copy of "partition magic 7" Create a partition of a couple of GB on the hard disk and transfer all you own work on to that partition. Backup you email as well. When that's completed, then format the c: drive and reinstall your software.

I know it sounds drastic, and my apologies if that programme caused it, but sometimes it’s best to bite the bullet and just do it. There maybe more time involved trying to get your system to peak performance than going for the option above.

[khaki]

Y'know.... I'm gonna say this because I'm pretty sick of the hypocrisy that I see in my own circle of experts.

I get some of the most supportive help anywhere... right here in this forum.
And yet, I have an entire IT department which loves to bust my chops and tease me about everything - but they come up small when I really need them.

Yes... I can work from home: I write code!
And until you guys can replace coffee-soaked keyboards, and free-up laser printer paper-jams from your house.... you should just stop punishing me because you are unable to do what I am allowed to do!

You guys get to "roam the floors". Most everyone else does not. But I don't try to make your life harder because of the freedoms that you get . Everybody has a responsibility. Your's is to help support me.
Yes.... I know that it is MY personal pc that is screwed-up (and that it is not "compliant"), but it's how I get my job done. So while it may be outside of your area of responsibility, it's easily within your abilities.

If you don't want to work with me... then don't expect to play with me (that definitely did not come out right... but you know what it means).
If i say something on these boards that crack you up... keep it to yourself (because my phone is company property and is to be used for company business at all times!).

I sincerely apologize to the members of this forum.. but this is something that I felt was necessary to say here - outside of company resources - where i can freely speak my mind and be free from charges of professional misconduct.
Corporate America can really suck sometimes!

And if anyone has any experience with re-installing W2K over top of an existing system, please let me know (I'm still holding-out hope for that solution).

Thanks again guys (and I really do apologize for the above)...
k

[DaveSW]

Can I just check something (the other pc is still chuntering away in the corner...)

Your PC. Does it have a restore pack, or does it have a proper windows disk. Because... restore packs wipe your hard drive as a matter of course. Genuine microsoft windows disk shouldn't. (testing under way).

It may well make a big difference.

Dave

ps maybe people are kinda busy watching TV or summat. There is a war about to start after all!!!

[khaki]

Hmmm... Dave...

I have a Dell disc (I should probably just call them huh?) that says the following:

OPERATING SYSTEM
Reinstallation CD
W2K + SP2

Only use this CD to reinstall the operating system on a Dell computer. This CD is not for reinstallation of programs or drivers


So... I probably shouldn't load this, huh?

Listen... I'm sorry that I got everyone involved in this - you've all been so helpful - but I should be calling Dell or something (anybody but the IT dept, that is. lol). I probably lean on you guys too much sometimes. I can't expect you guys to solve all of my issues (even though I wouldn't be surprised if you tried nonetheless).

I'll go the "Dell" route and keep you guys updated.
Thank you so so so so much!
(and I'm really sorry about my IT rant. That didn't belong here. I'm sorry).

sometimes way too emotional to make smart decisions...
k

[khaki]

DaveSW wrote: ps maybe people are kinda busy watching TV or summat. There is a war about to start after all!!!I think that I kinda started my own war (uh-oh)!

But seriously... there really are bigger issues in life.
I feel kinda stupid now.
k

[DaveSW]

Can i just guess at what they'll say?

Insert your restore disk.

They won't say:

Insert your restore pack which will erase all your files and you'll be absolutely b*******.

So you'll spend i dunno how much money on the helpline, to lose all your files. Gr8.

My mum called a Time Computers helpline a few years ago. They told her to take the case off, check all the cards were properly seated, push all visible plugs. Perhaps they thought o blame her for the problem when she touched something static sensitive. My Mum + Electronics = Meltdown.!!! She can mess up the vacuum cleaner!!! This isn't a gender related comment, honest. Just my ma. Ageist perhaps.

I just plain don't like helplines. Maybe it's just me. :D

About why we're so helpful here... Maybe it's cos we don't have to be here. except for the addicts to the forum ofcourse... We are not doing it for job, and all advice is slightly impersonal. Dunno. Maybe.

Oh yeah. Dell will probably offer you a service engineer (for your computer *wink), at a price ofcourse (*wink)

Dave

[khaki]

Everything you said is true Dave - and that's why I was not rushing to the phone at the first sign of trouble.

And you are so right about the motive behind the helpful nature of those in these forums. It's the inner passion that drives those who care to help others. That's why I love this kind of work, and the current state of the internet, this forum, and the people who inhabit it. Somehow we are all the same - yet in most ways we are probably not (how cool is that?!).

And to bring the original topic to the foreground again... I have recieved what appears to be an "olive branch" email from someone who heard my frustration (and concern about being able to perform my job properly).

Maybe it's nothing, but I am to expect a call in the morning (so maybe help is on the way after all. We'll see).

so much drama from a simple browser upgrade... (only me :rolleyes: )...
k

[DaveSW]

Good Luck!

[Robert Wellock]

If you are still stuck you could try visiting: http://www.suggestafix.com/ I am sure someone there will be fairly familiar with such problems.

[khaki]

Hi Guys...

Thanks Robert, I think that I will try that link (since the "olive branch" that I was expecting turned-out to be an informal reprimand :mad: ).

And now I'm really screwed... because I found another casualty to this whole mess:
Visual InterDev crashes as soon as it is launched! (well, actually it crashes as soon as I try to open a new or existing file)
Yikes! Now I really do have to develop using Notepad!!!
See?! It's a good thing that I don't have to rely on WYSIWYG.
I talk the talk... but I can also walk the walk! (but I really wish that I didn't have to :( ).

should have just stayed with the buggy 5.1 after all...
k

[DaveSW]

If you're still stuck...

Are you using a laptop or PC?

If you're using a PC I would be seriously tempted just to go to your local pc dealer/expert, and get them to put a new hardrive in as well as the old - i.e. two hard drives. You could then access all your files off the old drive, and reinstall your software on the new drive. I don't know what American prices are like but UK price would be around £40. Or if you had another computer you could take the hard drive out of that.

Dave