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Internet Explorer 8 Beta Problems

March 16th, 2008 Posted in Betas, Internet Explorer

UPDATE: MARCH 19TH 2009 -  The final version of Internet Explorer 8 should be available today from 4pm GMT from the IE8 web site.  It is expected that this will be announced at the second keynote at MIX this afternoon.

UPDATE: Internet Explorer 8 RC 1 is now  available for download.  This is the version you should be installing as it is feature complete, more secure with increased reliability . You can get Internet Explorer 8 Release Candidate 1 from the IE8 web site.

Usually, I am always pretty keen to start using beta software when it becomes available, and I suppose that this is why I currently have the Firefox 3 beta (which I am writing this from at the moment), Expression Web 2 Beta and the subject of this post, the Internet Explorer 8 beta.

With previous IE betas I have always tried to put up with any small issues with the software until final release, because the gains have always out-weighed the problems (for me at least), for example, the tabbed browsing in IE 7. This time though, I am having to throw in the towel with the Internet Explorer 8 beta, at least for now. Since I installed a few days ago, the small but annoying problems started to surface. They started with two tabs opening when you only requested one. Ok, so you have to close an extra tab, I can deal with that.

But, unfortunantely, since then it has only gotten worse. I am now experiencing an increasing number of JavaScript errors on numerous different sites and the full app is crashing at least once every 10-15 minutes (I am using Firefox 3 now, because IE 8 crashed 5 times in as many minutes!).

Now, don’t get me wrong, I know this is beta software and I have no problem with the fact that it has issues, of course it has issues. But I cannot help thinking that Microsoft have simply rushed this release of Internet Explorer to keep up with the ever-present threat of Firefox?

Anyway, maybe it is just my laptop config, maybe it is in fact just me. As I don’t know anybody else using it at the moment, I haven’t had any other comments yet.

Have you tried the Internet Explorer 8 Beta? If you have, leave a comment and lets get a list together (positive and negative) of user experiences.


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  1. 11 Responses to “Internet Explorer 8 Beta Problems”

  2. By Gavin Lidderdale on Jun 30, 2008

    Hi,

    I installed IE 8 Beta a few days ago and have had several problems since. For example, if I try to open MAPS under Google, the site is really messed up and my laptop crashes. I now have to switch between Firefox and IE to get around these problems. Most annoying of all is that IE 8 does not appear in the Add/Remove program list so I cannot delete it and return to IE7. Can you suggest how I can do this?

  3. By Mohyedeen on Jul 14, 2008

    I think you can get rid of IE8 by installing IE7.

  4. By Brian Lang on Sep 15, 2008

    Like Gavin since loading the Beta I can’t satisfactorily use IE as it keeps freezing.
    I am having to use Firefox or Chrome as there seems no way back once you have downloaded it!

  5. By Liz Nottingham on Dec 20, 2008

    I install IE 8 2 days ago. Realized I couldn’t see webpages correctly. I did a system restore to a day before I installed IE8. I older IE did not work right. So I did another system restore. Now my Internet Explorer does not work at all. I have tried to install MSN Explorer. But it would not install all the way. It’s as though IE8 is blocking the install of another explorer. Do you think somethins else is the problem? or IE8? Everything else seems to work. I am getting my email etc. Just can browse!!!
    Am using my husband’s computer to research this issue.

  6. By CHeller on Jan 1, 2009

    I wish I had looked into this before I downloaded Beta 8. I have had nothing but problems from freezings to several repetative programs to non-responsive and voided javas! I too have been using Firefox switching back and forth. I have downloaded and paid for 2 different repair programs, bult the problems continue. I hate PCs! Are Macs any better?

  7. By Melissa Johnston on Jan 19, 2009

    I installed IE 8 Beta on my laptop, and now IE does not work at all. (I am using Firefox and/or Safari to access the web now). I attempted to roll back / reinstall to IE 7, however I receive the following message “Your computer already has Internet Explorer 7. It is included with Windows Vista, the operating system you are running” – Can anyone offer a suggestion?

  8. By Brain on Jan 23, 2009

    I also have downloaded IE8 and the problem i have found is conflics with BBCi Player downloads, whenever i try to click on download, the little box giving the option to download just dissapears and no amount of clicking on the download option will bring it back again…Something tells me Microsoft have realy boobed with this upgrade. Just about to try and get rid so wish me luck cause i think i might need it after looking at the other threads…

  9. By Gary Pretty on Jan 25, 2009

    Anyone trying to remove IE8 beta could try the mothod described on the following page. Worked for me anyway guys.

  10. By Susan on Mar 31, 2009

    I installed IE8 last week and have had nothing but problems. Crashing at least 5 times a day. Can I go back and install ie7 to delete ie8? Really frustrating at work.

  11. By Kelly Burns on May 18, 2009

    I downloaded IE8 and ever since i cand load up webpages. I tried to uninstall the IE8 but the pages just stayed the same. HELP!

  12. By Taylor on Sep 1, 2009

    i am pretty much satisfied about the features and stability of Internet Explorer 8. it is much better than IE6 or IE7.

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