Internet Explorer 8 Installation Prerequisites

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The installation of Windows® Internet Explorer® 8 includes the installation of some additional required components and prerequisites, based on the target operating system.

Internet Explorer 8 installation prerequisites

The following software prerequisites must be satisfied before installing Internet Explorer 8. In most cases, if Dynamic Updates are enabled, the setup process attempts to install each prerequisite automatically. You may elect to pre-deploy the requirements as part of a preparation package or process to stage your environment for successful Internet Explorer 8 installation.

Windows XP Service Pack 2

  • Microsoft® Knowledge Base support article 946501 (https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=157956) resolves a problem in which an access violation occurs when an application exists on a Windows XP SP2-based multi-core computer. This issue occurs because of an error in the Msctf component. An access violation may occur when the Language bar is removed in the cleanup code of this component. A restart is required as part of this component installation.

    IESetup.exe depends on this component.  If the target computer has Dynamic Updates enabled, IESetup.exe will attempt the installation. If you disable Dynamic Updates and you don’t have this update installed on the machine, you will not be able to install Internet Explorer 8 until the update is on your system.

Windows Vista Service Pack 1 and Windows Server 2008

  • Microsoft Knowledge Base support article KB957388 (https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=157958) resolves a problem when trying to play a video in a Web page by using embedded RealNetworks RealPlayer 11. This update also includes a change that improves Internet Explorer 8 performance on Windows Vista when the ieshims.dll file is installed on the system. Ieshims.dll is used to maintain application compatibility with earlier versions of Internet Explorer, and replaces the functionality provided by the iebrshim.dll, AcRedir.dll, AcLayers.dll, and shimeng.dll files.

    This update will be automatically downloaded by IESetup.exe through Dynamic Update if enabled.

Windows Vista RTM

  • Microsoft Knowledge Base support article KB937287 (https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=157959) helps improve reliability and performance when you install or remove Internet Explorer 8 and future individual updates from Microsoft. Without this update, setup will be blocked: “Setup cannot continue because one or more updates required to install Windows Internet Explorer 8 are not present.”

    This update will not be installed by Dynamic Updates, but is required to be present on the system when you try to install Internet Explorer 8.

  • Microsoft Knowledge Base support article KB957388 (https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=157958) addresses known application compatibility issues in Windows Vista. This Windows Vista Application Compatibility Update includes a change that improves compatibility and functionality when Internet Explorer is running in protected mode. By default, protected mode is turned on for the Internet zone, the Intranet zone, and the Restricted Sites zone.

    This update also includes a change that improves Internet Explorer 8 performance on Windows Vista when the ieshims.dll file is installed on the system. Ieshims.dll is used to maintain application compatibility with earlier versions of Internet Explorer, and replaces the functionality provided by the iebrshim.dll, AcRedir.dll, AcLayers.dll, and shimeng.dll files.

    In the Internet Explorer Setup Wizard, if you select Install the latest updates, this update is installed automatically.

Additional prerequisite considerations

In addition to mandatory components required for the installation of Internet Explorer 8, there are additional components that can improve the user experience or functionality of Internet Explorer 8. The following components are not mandatory but should be considered by deployment planners.

Windows Search 4.0

The Internet Explorer 8 Smart Address Bar suggests destinations from typed addresses, history, favorites when text is entered in the address bar. These suggestions are richer and more relevant when Windows Search is installed. For Windows XP (SP2 and SP3) and Windows Server 2003 SP2, we recommend that you install Windows Search 4.0 to access this enhanced functionality. For Windows Vista, we recommend you upgrade from Windows Search 3.0 to 4.0 to improve performance. For more information about Windows Search, see : https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=157961.

ActiveX Installer Service

The ActiveX® Installer Service (AXIS) is a Windows Vista technology that enables the installation of ActiveX controls to a standard user in the enterprise. It consists of a Windows service, a Group Policy administrative template, and a few changes in Internet Explorer behavior.

Many organizations must install ActiveX controls on their desktops in order to ensure that a variety of programs that they must use on a daily basis will work properly. However, most ActiveX controls must be installed by a member of the Administrators group, and many organizations have configured or want to configure their users to run as standard users, which are non-administrative users that are members of the Users group. As a result, organizations often have to repackage and deploy the ActiveX controls to the users. In addition, many of these ActiveX controls must be regularly updated. Many organizations find this to be difficult and costly to manage for standard users.

With Windows Vista and the ActiveX Installer Service, you can now easily deploy and update ActiveX controls to your standard user environments. The ActiveX Installer Service enables you to leverage Group Policy to define and manage approved host URLs that standard users can use to install ActiveX controls in a locked-down environment. For more information about AXIS, see: https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=157964.