Fig 1.0 Click on the DOWNLOAD NOW button to continue
| HOW TO DOWNLOAD AND INSTALL INTERNET EXPLORER 8 |
In this section I will show you how to download and install Internet Explorer 8, microsoft's latest web browser for Windows XP and Windows Vista users - Internet Explorer 6 (IE6) was developed for Windows XP and Internet Explorer 7 (IE7) was developed for Windows Vista.
IE8 is currently available as an optional, manual, download that will eventually become a part of the automatic Windows Update process. Until that happens you will need to download IE8 from either the International IE8 website (http://www.microsoft.com/windows/internet-explorer/default.aspx) or from a Localised IE8 website (UK - http://www.microsoft.com/uk/windows/internet-explorer/default.aspx), if a localised website is available. Simply open IE7 and then type one of those IE8 website addresses into its Address Bar edit box before pressing the ENTER keyboard key or clicking on the GO button. Once the IE8 homepage appears, in this example the UK homepage, click on the DOWNLOAD NOW button to continue.
After clicking on the DOWNLOAD NOW button the next webpage to appear allows you to localise IE8, if possible. This means you might be able to change IE8's environment settings (country/language) before downloading it. In this example I have already localised IE8 by using the UK website, which means IE8 will be using the English language and have certain features UK preferenced, but if I had used the International website instead I could of changed the locale (country/language) to France/French for example. I can still do that by clicking on the CLICK HERE FOR ALL OTHER LANGUAGES link in Step 1, or by using the International website, but I will stick with the UK website.
In Step 2 (above) you are asked to select the operating system (Windows version) you are going to install IE8 on. Click on the WINDOWS VISTA link to continue. Doing so will bring up a File Download message requester that in turn brings up a SAVE AS file requester (Figures 1.2 and 1.3). Simply click on their SAVE buttons to continue.
In Fig 1.3 above I have navigated the SAVE AS file requester to my Downloads folder, the folder I want the
IE8-WindowsVista-x86-ENU.exe setup file saved into. If you want the IE8-WindowsVista-x86-ENU.exe setup file saved into a
different folder simply navigate the SAVE AS file requester to that folder. The IE8-WindowsVista-x86-ENU.exe setup file
contains the instructions file needed to install IE8, known as the Installation Wizard file, as well as the actual web
browser (IE8) files.
When you have navigated the SAVE AS file requester to the folder you want the IE8-WindowsVista-x86-ENU.exe setup file
saved into click on the SAVE button to continue. A Download Progress guage (window) will then appear showing you how
much of the IE8-WindowsVista-x86-ENU.exe setup file has been downloaded (saved) so far. When the download process has
finished the guage (window) will close.....as long as the CLOSE THIS DIALOG BOX WHEN DOWNLOAD COMPLETES option is ticked.
If it is not ticked you will need to manually close the window when the download process has completed. To avoid this
scenario simply tick the option during the download process, that way the window will be closed automatically when the
download process has completed.
Now that the IE8-WindowsVista-x86-ENU.exe setup file has been downloaded the next thing to do is open the folder you saved it into (i.e. the Downloads folder) so that you can install IE8.
| INSTALL INTERNET EXPLORER 8 |
To install IE8 begin by double clicking on the IE8-WindowsVista-x86-ENU.exe setup file that you have downloaded. It will display a security requester (Fig 2.1 below) that asks you if you want to RUN the setup file. Click on its RUN button to continue. This will then extract the Installation Wizard files and Web Browser files from the setup file (Fig 2.2).
When the Installation Wizard files and Web Browser files have been extracted from the IE8-WindowsVista-x86-ENU.exe setup file a UAC (User Account Control) security requester will appear.
User Account Control (UAC) is a feature of Windows Vista that helps to prevent unauthorized changes to the computer, such as deleting a system file or installing software. When attempting to install Internet Explorer 8 the UAC security requester above automatically blocks you off, because it wants to know if you are the one attempting to install Internet Explorer 8 and not a piece of malicious software for example. In the above case simply click on the CONTINUE button to continue, or on the CANCEL button to cancel the installation process.
At any time throughout the installation process you can click on a CANCEL button, if one is available, to Cancel the installation process. However. In some cases, generally speaking, even if you click on a CANCEL button the installation might have gone too far for it to be stopped, cancelled and/or reversed. So think very carefully before deciding to install any thing onto your Computer.
The Installation Wizard has the task of copying the necessary files (scripts, instructions, actual files and so on),
amongst other things, in order to make the installation process easier for Windows Vista and you. That is what happened
in Fig 2.2 above. In Fig 2.4 the Installation Wizard welcomes you as it is now ready to help you install IE8. Read all
the information on the welcome window very carefully before clicking on the NEXT button to continue.
Clicking on the above NEXT button takes you to the License Agreement window below, where you must agree to the Terms &
Conditions before continuing.
Read the License Agreement carefully. Although these tend to contain useless information, they usually explain Copyright
issues or Usage issues that clarify who can use the software and who cannot. So if, for example, you are told that a
certain piece of software is Free and/or Free To Use you may want to clarify this by reading the agreement. Some
installation wizards do not allow you to continue, by fading out the CONTINUE button, until you have read (scrolled
down) the license agreement. When you are ready and if you agree, click on the I ACCEPT button to continue.
The next window asks you if you would like to install any additional updates that may have been created since the
release of IE8 - Security updates, Performance updates and so on. As a general rule leave the INSTALL UPDATES option
ticked and then click on the NEXT button to continue. The only real reason for unticking that option is when you do not
have an internet connection at the time of installation.
When any additional updates and so on have been updated (Fig 2.7 above) you are then asked if you want to restart the computer now (RESTART NOW) or later (RESTART LATER). As a general rule you should click on the RESTART NOW (Recommended) button to continue. However. There are times when you do want to restart later - When you are installing other software, perhaps at the same time as IE8, for example. In which case you would click on the RESTART LATER button instead and then manually restart the computer when all installations have finished.
| SETUP NEW FEATURES |
After restarting the computer and launching IE8 for the first time you should be presented with the IE8 welcome window
that introduces some of its new features. This "New Features" Wizard is built into IE8 and therefore is not a part of
the IE8 setup file Installation Wizard, above, which completed its tasks when you clicked on one of the restart buttons.
Once you have read the "New Features" welcome window click on its NEXT button to continue.
The next window asks you if you would like to switch on the Suggested Sites feature. This feature builds a list of suggested websites for you based on your internet history files, which are sent to microsoft's server for comparison with its similar/recommended websites list. If it feels you might like a similar/recommended website from that comparison list your suggested websites list is then updated. IE8 comes with a built-in Suggested Sites button. So if you like the idea of this feature simply click on the YES, TURN ON SUGGESTED SITES radio button before clicking on the NEXT button to continue. Otherwise click on the NO, DON'T TURN ON radio button before clicking on the NEXT button.
The last window asks you to select a Settings option - USE EXPRESS SETTINGS or CUSTOM SETTINGS. As a beginner you should select the USE EXPRESS SETTINGS option before clicking on the FINISH button to continue. This will enable all the default settings - Settings that should not really concern you as a beginner.
That's it!! You can now start using IE8. If the above "New Features" windows did not appear when you installed IE8, normally because of IE7 being installed, do not worry. Simply go to the TOOLS menu of IE8, click on its INTERNET OPTIONS menu-item and then click on the ADVANCED Tab (window). From there. Click on the RESET button, close down IE8 and then re-open it. You should then see the above "New Features" welcome window appear.
For more detailed information on Installation, Installation Wizards and Internet Options read the sections inside the Installing Software and Installing Hardware categories, as well as the Internet Options Advanced Tab section.
Microsoft product screen shot(s) reprinted with permission from Microsoft Corporation. As stated here by the Microsoft Corporation.
