Tools Support

IT pros in enterprises have unique requirements to deploy, manage, and support the web browser that runs on user desktops. The following tools support IT pros in the enterprise:

  • Blocker ToolkitThe Blocker Toolkit allows IT pros to block Windows® Internet Explorer® 9 installation through Automatic Updates, and prevents automatic upgrades from Internet Explorer 7 or Internet Explorer 8 to Internet Explorer 9. This toolkit helps them to manage when and how to deploy Internet Explorer 9 in the organization. For example, they can test application compatibility before deployment.

  • Internet Explorer Administration Kit (IEAK). IT pros can use the IEAK to create custom, branded versions of Internet Explorer 9 that they can deliver as standalone packages or with other software and services. They do not need to install an operating system at the same time, and they can update customizations and branding without reinstalling Internet Explorer 9.

  • Unattend Settings. By using an Unattend.xml file during Windows 7 installation, IT pros can customize Internet Explorer 9 during operating system installation. Settings that they can customize include the home page, favorites, search providers, feeds, Accelerators, Web Slices, and settings for top result searches.

    The following table shows settings that are new in Internet Explorer 9.

    New Internet Explorer setting

    Description

    Microsoft-Windows-IE-InternetExplorer/SearchScopes/Scope/ShowTopResult

    Specifies whether the TopResult feature is used with search requests.

    Microsoft-Windows-IE-InternetExplorer/SearchScopes/Scope/TopResultURL

    Specifies the complete URL of the page that shows the TopResult search results.

    The following table shows changes in existing Internet Explorer settings.

    Changed setting

    Description of setting

    Description of change

    Microsoft-Windows-IE-InternetExplorer/EnableLinksBar

    Specifies whether the Favorites bar appears.

    The default value is changed to false.

    Microsoft-Windows-IE-InternetExplorer/ShowCommandBar

    Specifies whether the Command bar appears.

    The default value is changed to false.

    Microsoft-Windows-IE-InternetExplorer/ShowStatusBar

    Specifies whether the Status bar appears.

    The default value is changed to false.

    Microsoft-Windows-IE-InternetExplorer/SmallCommandBarIcons

    Specifies whether small icons on the Command Bar are used.

    The default value is changed to true.

    For more information about Unattend.xml, see the Windows Automated Installation Kit.

  • Application Compatibility Toolkit (ACT). The ACT contains tools and documentation for evaluating and mitigating application compatibility issues before deploying Windows 7. ACT includes the Internet Explorer Compatibility Test Tool (IECTT) to analyze Internet and intranet websites for potential compatibility issues. The IECTT events in ACT 5.6 continue to apply to organizations that are migrating from Internet Explorer 6 or Internet Explorer 7 to Internet Explorer 9. For more information, see Microsoft Application Compatibility Toolkit.

  • Microsoft Assessment and Planning (MAP) Toolkit 5.5. Microsoft Assessment and Planning (MAP) Toolkit 5.5 discovers and reports on deployed web browsers, Microsoft ActiveX® controls, and add-ons. For more information, see the Microsoft Assessment Planning Toolkit.

Conclusion

Internet Explorer 9 is built on the solid foundation of Internet Explorer 8. By providing a web browser that we think end users will enjoy, Internet Explorer 9 can help organizations standardize on the web browser that addresses the special needs that enterprises have to reduce deployment, management, and support costs. This is an all-around fast browser with a clean new interface, professional-grade reliability, industry-leading protection, and web standards support.

We recommend that organizations that have just started their Windows® 7 and Internet Explorer® 8 migration planning, or are currently in the application testing phase of their Windows 7 and Internet Explorer 8 migration projects, switch to testing, piloting, and deploying Windows 7 and Internet Explorer 9.

For organizations that are currently deploying Windows 7 and Internet Explorer 8, we recommend that they continue with these deployments. We also recommend that these organizations pilot Internet Explorer 9 and make Internet Explorer 9 part of their longer-term desktop strategy. Because of the high degree of compatibility, investments made while deploying Internet Explorer 8 today will also apply to Internet Explorer 9 deployments.

For more information about Internet Explorer 9 see the Internet Explorer - FAQ for IT Professionals. Additionally, watch the Internet Explorer 9 - Overview demo for IT Professionals to see Internet Explorer 9. In this demo, you can learn how to pilot the web browser by updating Windows 7 images or adding it to an MDT 2010 deployment share.

Revision History

The following table summarizes changes to this topic.

Milestone

Change

Internet Explorer 9 Beta

New.

Internet Explorer 9 Release Candidate

General updates to all content for version naming. Note especially changes for:

  • Prerequisites for installing Internet Explorer 9 on Windows 7

  • New Group Policies

Updates to the following content areas:

  • Tracking protection lists

  • Links to available tools

  • New and updated unattend settings

Internet Explorer 9

Updates to remove references to pre-release versions to Internet Explorer 9.

See Also

Concepts

Internet Explorer 9 - Overview for IT Professionals

Other Resources

Internet Explorer 9 Overview Demo
Springboard Series for Internet Explorer 9 on TechNet
Internet Explorer 9– Product Guide for IT Professionals
Internet Explorer 9– Product Guide