browser compatibility

IE6 and IE 7

[elzbeth]

I now have IE 7 and have just built a website and validated it - it passes. However, I hear that it's not looking as it should on a friend's computer which is still running IE6. I'm new to all of this - can someone please tell me how I can check my sites with DIFFERENT versions of the same browser ideally on my own machine?

elzbeth

[mattur]

To install IE6 standalone:

1. Download ie6eolas_nt.zip from [browsers.evolt.org...]

2. Extract the files to a new directory

3. Create a shortcut to "iexplore.exe" called IE6

IE5.5 and IE5.01 stand-alones also available from the same link if you require them, install them in the same way.

[mrdeltoid]

I suggest trying [browsershots.org...]

It allows for one to view a website on numerous browsers/versions.

[bill]

The developers at Microsoft suggest that you try their Virtual PC version:

IE6 and IE7 Running on a Single Machine [blogs.msdn.com]

Running IE in a virtual machine is a very good idea. These other methods of running the two (or more) versions simultaneously are really hacks, and may not perform the same as a true native install of the browser.

[cmarshall]

I don't know how much help I can be, but what I do is use an Intel-based Mac, with a product called Parallels.

This is like Microsoft's Virtual PC, except that it is usable, because it leverages the fact that it is running on real Intel hardware, and provides a full-speed experience.

I have 3 Windows VMs: Win98SE, XP Home and Vista Business. I have IE5, IE6 and IE7 running on them respectively. I also have versions of NN, Opera and Mozilla/Firefox running on them.

I could also add Linux or Me, but this setup pretty much gives me the range I need to test against.

Since the Mac can be set up as a full-scale LAMP server, it gives me one heck of a Web development platform. All the Parallels VMs can be set to test against my laptop, so I can run fourteen different browsers against my sites on an airplane with no external connectivity.