System Requirements and Prerequisites

This topic outlines the system requirements and prerequisites for installing Windows® Internet Explorer® 9.

System requirements for Internet Explorer 9

The table below lists the minimum requirements your computer needs to run Internet Explorer 9. Some components may require additional system resources that are not listed.

Internet Explorer 9 installation prerequisites

The following software prerequisites must be satisfied before installing Internet Explorer 9. 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 9 installation. For example, if you plan to slipstream Internet Explorer 9 into an existing Windows image, you will need to know these prerequisites.

Prerequisites are listed for each supported operating system version to which they apply.

Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2

Prerequisities for Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 include the following updates:

• New functionality and performance improvement for the graphics platform.

• Performance improvements when you print from XPS-based applications to GDI-based print drivers.

• Some streaming issue resolutions that are related to Media Foundation.

For more information, see Knowledge Base support article 2454826

Windows Vista SP2 and Windows Server 2008 SP2

Prerequisities for Windows Vista SP2, and Windows Server 2008 SP2 include:

• Microsoft Knowledge Base support article KB971512. The Windows Graphics, Imaging, and XPS Library contains the latest advancements in modern graphics technologies for gaming, multimedia, imaging, and printing applications. It includes updates to DirectX, DirectCompute, and XPS Library

  For more information, see Knowledge Base support article KB971512

• Microsoft Knowledge Base support article 2117917. This update provides fixes and improvements to the graphics platform, Microsoft Media Foundation, and printing applications in Windows Vista. You must install KB971512 before you install this update.

  For more information, see Knowledge Base support article KB2117917

Windows Vista SP1 and Windows Server 2008

Prerequisities for Windows Vista SP1 and Windows Server 2008 include:

• Microsoft Knowledge Base support article KB948465. Support for new types of hardware and emerging hardware standards. This simplifies deployment for consumers, developers, and IT professionals. This version supports the following language versions: English, French, German, Japanese, and Spanish.

  For more information, see Knowledge Base support article KB948465

Additional prerequisite considerations

In addition to mandatory components required for the installation of Internet Explorer 9, there are additional components that can improve the user experience or functionality of Internet Explorer 9. The following components are not mandatory but should be considered by deployment planners.

Windows Search 4.0

The Internet Explorer 9 Smart Address Bar suggests destinations from typed addresses, history, and favorites when text is entered in the address bar. These suggestions are richer and more relevant when Windows Search is installed. Windows Search can help manage search results your users contend with each day through a familiar, seamless user interface.

Windows Search 4.0 is compatible with both 32-bit and 64-bit Windows operating systems. It can be deployed using Microsoft System Center Configuration Manager, and supports Group Policy for easy deployment and management across all the computers in your organization. It is also ideal for kiosk environments because it runs as a system service instead of as a user application. This allows for more efficient indexing when multiple users share the same computer, and results in a more stable overall user experience. For more information about Windows Search, see Windows Search.

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, which end users in an organization typically are not. 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.