Run IE7, IE8, and IE9 Simultaneously with Virtual Machines
Testing Websites with Multiple Internet Explorer Versions
When developing websites, thorough testing across various browser versions is crucial. Running multiple versions of Internet Explorer simultaneously on a single computer can be challenging, as some versions are not designed for concurrent operation.
However, a solution exists that enables you to run Internet Explorer 7, 8, and 9 concurrently within a Windows environment. Microsoft provides freely available Windows VHD (Virtual Hard Disk) files specifically for web designers to test their websites in these older IE versions. These files are designed for import into Microsoft Virtual PC.
Available Internet Explorer Versions in Virtual Machines
- IE7 in Windows Vista: This virtual machine also includes installation files for both IE8 and IE9, allowing for upgrades within the environment.
- IE8 in Windows 7: Installation files for IE9 are also provided within this virtual machine.
- IE9 in Windows 7: A dedicated virtual machine for Internet Explorer 9.
It’s important to note that the Windows 7 and Vista VHD files are substantial in size and are distributed across multiple files. Ensure you download all necessary files for each virtual machine you intend to utilize. We will detail the process of unpacking these files to create the complete VHD file. You will also need to download Microsoft Virtual PC, which functions as a Windows update.
The download links for both the virtual machines and Virtual PC are provided at the end of this article. Completing the download of Virtual PC requires Windows validation.
Important Note: Installing a newer version of Internet Explorer within one of these virtual machines will replace the previously installed version. To maintain access to all three versions, it is recommended to create a separate virtual machine for each.
Installing Microsoft Virtual PC
To begin the installation of Virtual PC, simply double-click the downloaded .msu file.
A confirmation dialog will appear. Select “Yes” to proceed with the update installation.
Review the license terms carefully, then click “I Accept” to continue.
The installation progress will be displayed on screen.
Upon completion of the update installation, a dialog box will appear. Choose “Restart Now” to immediately reboot your computer. Alternatively, select “Close” if you need to save your work first, but remember to restart your PC before using Virtual PC.
Extracting the Virtual Machine Files
To expand an IE virtual machine, double-click the .exe file, which represents the initial part of the compressed files. For this example, we will extract the IE8 Windows 7 virtual machine and import it into Virtual PC.
If a security warning dialog appears, click “Run” to continue the extraction process.
Carefully read the License Agreement and click “Accept” to proceed with extracting the virtual machine files.
The WinRAR self-extracting archive dialog box will appear. You can accept the default destination folder, which is typically the current location of the compressed files, or click “Browse” to select a different location for the resulting virtual machine files. We accepted the default location and clicked “Install”.
The installation progress will be displayed.
Once the files have been extracted, you will find a .vhd file (the virtual machine hard drive) and a .vmc file (containing the virtual machine settings).
Importing the Virtual Machine into Virtual PC
To launch Virtual PC, select “Windows Virtual PC” from the Windows Virtual PC folder in the Start menu.
If you have existing virtual machines, a Windows Explorer window will open to their location. Click the “Create virtual machine” button on the toolbar. If the button is not visible, click the double right-pointing arrow button and select “Create virtual machine” from the drop-down menu.
The “Create a virtual machine” wizard will appear. Enter a name for the virtual machine in the “Name” field. Accept the default location for the virtual machine file, which will be placed in the Virtual Machines folder. Click “Next”.
On the “Specify memory and networking options” screen, enter the desired amount of RAM (in megabytes) for the virtual machine. To connect the virtual machine to your network, select the “Use computer network connections” check box. This is generally necessary for internet access within the virtual machine.
On the “Add a virtual hard disk” screen, select the “Use an existing virtual hard disk” radio button and click “Browse”.
In the “Select virtual hard disk” dialog box, navigate to the folder where you extracted the .vhd and .vmc files. Select the .vhd file and click “Open”.
Select the “Enable Undo Disks” check box.
Note: The “Enable Undo Disks” option allows you to revert to the initial settings of the virtual machine. This is useful because the Windows versions in these virtual machines are not activated and are essentially in trial mode. As stated on the Microsoft site:
“You may be required to activate the OS as the product key has been deactivated. This is the expected behavior. The VHDs will not pass genuine validation. Immediately after you start the Windows 7 or Windows Vista images they will request to be activated. You can cancel the request and it will login to the desktop. You can activate up to two “rearms” (type slmgr –rearm at the command prompt) which will extend the trial for another 30 days each time OR simply shutdown the VPC image and discard the changes you’ve made from undo disks to reset the image back to its initial state. By doing either of these methods, you can technically have a base image which never expires although you will never be able to permanently save any changes on these images for longer than 90 days.”
We will explain how to undo changes and reset the virtual machine later in this article.
Click “Create”.
A .vmcx file will appear in the Virtual Machines folder in the Explorer window.
To open the virtual machine, select the .vmcx file and click the arrow button next to the “Open” button. Select “Windows Virtual PC” from the drop-down menu.
During boot-up, two user accounts will be displayed. For each virtual machine, use the following usernames:
- IE7 in Windows Vista: Administrator
- IE8 in Windows 7: IEUser
- IE9 in Windows 7: Administrator
Use the password “Password1” (without the quotes) for each virtual machine to log in to Windows.
The Windows Activation dialog box may appear, indicating that the activation period has expired. Click “Cancel” in the lower-right corner of the dialog box.
The Microsoft Security Essentials dialog box may also appear. Click “Close”.
Once Windows has started, click the Internet Explorer icon on the Taskbar to launch IE.
You can then set your default home page and test web pages in this specific IE version.
To verify the version, select “About Internet Explorer” from the “Help” menu.
To close the virtual machine, select “Close” from the “Action” menu.
In the Windows Virtual PC dialog box, select “Shut down” from the drop-down list. You can also select “Make it the default and don’t show this message again” to set shutdown as the default option. Click “OK”.
Managing Virtual Machine Settings
You can modify the settings of a virtual machine after it has been shut down. To do so, select the .vmcx file for the desired virtual machine and click “Settings” on the toolbar in Explorer.
Resetting the Virtual Machine
If you are nearing the end of the 30-day trial period, you can reset the virtual machine to its initial settings, effectively resetting the trial period. To do this, select “Undo Disks” in the list on the left of the Windows Virtual PC Settings dialog box. Ensure the “Enable Undo Disks” check box is selected and click “Discard changes”.
A warning dialog will appear. Click “Continue” to proceed with resetting the virtual machine settings. Remember that any changes you made to the Windows system within the virtual machine will be lost.
Click “OK” to close the Settings dialog box.
You can install IE8 or IE9 within the IE7 virtual machine using the icons on the desktop. However, remember that installing either version will replace IE7.
In the IE8 virtual machine, you will find the file to install IE9 in the C:\Internet Explorer Versions directory.
Upon subsequent launches, a different login dialog may appear.
Click “IEUser” and enter “Password1” in the edit box. Click “OK”.
A dialog box will appear while the integration features of the virtual machine are enabled.
The virtual machine will then open, allowing you to run IE.
Download Microsoft Virtual PC from http://www.microsoft.com/windows/virtual-pc/default.aspx.
Download the virtual machines from http://www.microsoft.com/download/en/details.aspx?id=11575.