Older IE versions

Are they still available for download?

[bumpaw]

I would like to be able to check for IE 5.5 or maybe even 5.0 compatibility. Are they still out there for download, and if so can you run them on the same machine with IE 6?

[grahamstewart]

The excellent thread How to: Install multiple versions of IE on your PC [webmasterworld.com] by DrDoc will answer both questions.

[bumpaw]

Thanks GS, That's perfect! :)

[bumpaw]

If you had to pick only one, and the choices were IE 5 and IE 5.5, which one would you use for testing purposes?

[DrDoc]

I'd pick both... Because they both render things so differently, and they both have their quirks.

[bumpaw]

Doc, I was feeling a little technically deprived after reading the thread on installing multiple versions of IE on the same machine. I had thoughts of just getting one to start and sticking it on and old PC with Win 98 that is just gathering dust in the corner. The plan was to get one version downloaded to a CD, and then uninstall IE 6.0 on the old machine. Then load the 5 or 5.5 from the CD. I'm stopped in the first phase though. The evolt.com downloads stop after about 14k as though they are done. There is something I'm missing probably.

[Purple Martin]

Uninstall 6 on the old machine? Uninstalling IE is notoriously difficult. As you're feeling technically deprived and the machine is just gathering dust (which presumably means you don't care about any data on it) it'll be far easier to format the hard drive and install a version of Windows which has the version of IE you're after.

[bumpaw]

PM, You are quite right that may be the easy way to go. I'll give it more thought.

[bruhaha]

I'd pick both... Because they both render things so differently

I agree on the need for both. But it's not quite that simple. There's not just the issue of 5 and 5.5 but which service packs to use! Currently, I have 5 with sp 2 and 5.5 with service pack 1. Are those reasonable choices? (Is it worth my while to also be checking 5 with sp1 and 5.5 with sp 2?)

[DrDoc]

The difference between original version and one of its service packs has nothing to do with rendering.
The service packs addressed security issues (and other problems), not the rendering engine.

[bruhaha]

The service packs addressed security issues(and other problems)

I understand the principle. But when I discover something won't function/render with service pack 1 but is fine with #2, that means. . .?

In other words, what are the "other problems"? (since it doesn't seem like a "security issue" would explain such behavior)

[DrDoc]

What exactly is not working in sp1, but works in sp2?

[bruhaha]

Honestly, I can't recall --but I will try to dig it up. The problem came to light while trying to help a customer having trouble using one of our web sites so there should be some record of the issue. (She was using IE 5.5 with service pack 1, and resolved the problem, I believe, by installing service pack 2.)