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Microsoft launches Internet Explorer 10 for Windows 7

Published on 27th February 2013 by Gareth Halfacree

Microsoft's Internet Explorer 10 is now available for Windows 7, bringing with it all the features of the Windows 8 version bar the in-built Flash Player.

If you're still running the last-generation Windows 7 - either out of a desire to avoid the divisive tile-based Modern UI introduced in Windows 8 or just because you're loath to fix something that isn't broken - and you're an Internet Explorer user, you'll be pleased to hear that Microsoft has finally brought Internet Explorer 10 to its last-generation operating system.

Previously a Windows 8 exclusive, Internet Explorer 10 includes a raft of improvements to the web browsing world including - and most importantly - better adherence to established web standards, helping to minimise the tweaks needed to get sites to operate correctly in Microsoft's traditionally somewhat esoteric browser. IE10 also includes an Enhanced Protected Mode sandbox feature for improved security, a better anti-phishing and download-filtering engine dubbed SmartScreen, and Do Not Track support - enabled by default - to improve privacy. A new touch-centric application programming interface and DirectX acceleration to speed up rendering complete the feature set.

Launched back in October alongside Windows 8, Microsoft has been slow to port Internet Explorer 10 back to Windows 7 - despite the many improvements it brings. The release, sent live on Microsoft's servers late last night, brings the wait to an end - and pushing the software out through Windows Update in the 'Important' category, meaning that users of earlier versions should receive the upgrade automatically.

While most of the functionality of Windows 8's version of Internet Explorer 10 has made the transition intact, there's one change to the software between platforms: running on Windows 7, Internet Explorer 10 will use the same Adobe-provided Flash Player ActiveX plugin as previous Internet Explorer releases; the Windows 8 version, meanwhile, shifted to using an integrated Flash Player plugin which is automatically updated through Windows Update, in a similar manner to the Flash support in Google's Chrome browser.

Other than that, the two browsers are functionally identical - and, given the improved security promised with IE10's Enhanced Protected Mode, a recommended install even for those who prefer a third-party browser on their Microsoft-provided operating system.

For Windows 8 users, an update to Internet Explorer 10 has been released alongside the Windows 7 version to address yet another security flaw in Adobe's Flash Player. The update is available now for all Windows 8, Windows Server 2012 and Windows RT systems, and should be installed as soon as possible to keep your systems secure from attack.

Thus far, Microsoft has not indicated whether it plans to bring Internet Explorer 10 to Windows Vista or earlier platforms.

22 Comments

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jrs77 27th February 2013, 10:44

Installed it yesterday, but I still don't like it. Can't deal with how the tabs and adress-field are arranged etc.

Panos 27th February 2013, 11:11

IE10? I left it somewhere at 6-7 when Chrome came out.

Never looked back.

mi1ez 27th February 2013, 11:47

Installing it now. I find I need it occasionally as a second browser for certain web tools.

ChromeX 27th February 2013, 12:46

Never use IE and when I go home and grab my copy of windows 7 pro, I wont be using the god-awful windows 8 either!

fdbh96 27th February 2013, 16:28

Yes but it now downloads chrome 25% faster...

Snips 27th February 2013, 16:29

What a great thing for Microsoft to do. Offering the superior IE10 to Win7 consumers. You don't need any lame third party browser adware like chrome, firefox etc. etc. For those who, how did they put it "never looked back" or "never use it" you can't throw an opinion on how good the alternative is unless you've used the new version. Even IE9 was better than the supposed great alternatives.

or you can just keep your head in the sand, we won't miss you ;)

jrs77 27th February 2013, 17:20

Quote:

Originally Posted by Snips
What a great thing for Microsoft to do. Offering the superior IE10 to Win7 consumers. You don't need any lame third party browser adware like chrome, firefox etc. etc. For those who, how did they put it "never looked back" or "never use it" you can't throw an opinion on how good the alternative is unless you've used the new version. Even IE9 was better than the supposed great alternatives.

or you can just keep your head in the sand, we won't miss you ;)

Tried and tested all of the IE-versions alongside the alternatives at any given time. At the moment IE simply sucks compared to FF/Chrome/Opera.

They simply don't get the simpliest thing right in IE, such as the tabs being above the adressbar for example. Nor is the configuration of IE anywhere near as pleasant as with FF/Chrome/Opera.

Performance means nothing, when the user-experience isn't good aswell.

play_boy_2000 27th February 2013, 17:21

Looks virtually identical. Seems a bit snappier though.

fdbh96 27th February 2013, 17:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by Snips
What a great thing for Microsoft to do. Offering the superior IE10 to Win7 consumers. You don't need any lame third party browser adware like chrome, firefox etc. etc. For those who, how did they put it "never looked back" or "never use it" you can't throw an opinion on how good the alternative is unless you've used the new version. Even IE9 was better than the supposed great alternatives.

or you can just keep your head in the sand, we won't miss you ;)

IE 10 is alright, but chrome syncs tabs between my ipad, has lastpass (cant remember if IE does now), and it never crashes on me while IE occasionally does. Also the compatibility issues people used to get on other browsers barely apply now as most developers recognise the significant number of people not on IE.

Blackshark 27th February 2013, 18:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by Snips
What a great thing for Microsoft to do. Offering the superior IE10 to Win7 consumers. You don't need any lame third party browser adware like chrome, firefox etc. etc. For those who, how did they put it "never looked back" or "never use it" you can't throw an opinion on how good the alternative is unless you've used the new version. Even IE9 was better than the supposed great alternatives.

or you can just keep your head in the sand, we won't miss you ;)

He he, all are allowed their opinion, even when the numbers tell a different story. Not saying you are wrong... well maybe I am. For you its right, for an ever growing number of people, IE (up to V10 anyway) sucks balls of old cabbage.

jimmyjj 28th February 2013, 00:02

Well we waited a long time for it.

Now we just need Chrome to bring out a new browser.

Oh wait, they update theirs a couple of times a month, it is just that as it updates itself utterly seamlessly I never noticed.

I think IE 10 would have to give me a free car wash or something to get me to try it out.

Microsoft, so late to the party everyone else has got drunk and gone home.

On a serious note, this big new release once in a blue moon strategy is just fossilised. Firefox and Chome update, improve and add features on a continual basis.

I remember when Chrome introduced GPU acceleration of web pages. No big fan fair, no two year wait - it just appeared one day in one of their regular updates.

SexyHyde 28th February 2013, 00:42

Quote:

Originally Posted by jimmyjj
On a serious note, this big new release once in a blue moon strategy is just fossilised. Firefox and Chrome update, improve and add features on a continual basis.

But they have to give extra reasons to upgrade to W8. Doesn't really make sense when the competition does it better though. But while Ballmer is there, we must do it his way I suppose. After all Ballmer knows best!

I'll be giving it a go shortly mind, but I doubt it'll be my daily driver. Especially when my work PC is an XP machine. See Chrome works on that and so that brings loads of benefits that IE10 doesn't. Like the ability to install for one.

SlowMotionSuicide 28th February 2013, 09:08

Quote:

Originally Posted by Snips
What a great thing for Microsoft to do. Offering the superior IE10 to Win7 consumers. You don't need any lame third party browser adware like chrome, firefox etc. etc. For those who, how did they put it "never looked back" or "never use it" you can't throw an opinion on how good the alternative is unless you've used the new version. Even IE9 was better than the supposed great alternatives.

or you can just keep your head in the sand, we won't miss you ;)

Oh hai there, I wasn't even remotely aware that there were still people who choose to use Internet Explorer voluntarily.

The things you learn.

Snips 28th February 2013, 09:14

LMAO, love the anti-Microsoft brigade trying their hardest to ridicule a positive comment about Microsoft. IE is the only browser you need but there's some protest against it, why? Because it's Microsoft? Because your machine can't load it?

I've personally used all variants of the so called better alternative and I can hand on heart say they just don't cut it. The worse thing about the so called better alternative is the "Look at me!" "install me!" "upgrade me!" "Try this free!" nonsense. They are like a small child crying out for attention in a room full of children. As a result, at best it's adware at worst it's malware.

SlowMotionSuicide 28th February 2013, 09:22

Quote:

Originally Posted by Snips
LMAO, love the anti-Microsoft brigade trying their hardest to ridicule a positive comment about Microsoft. IE is the only browser you need but there's some protest against it, why? Because it's Microsoft? Because your machine can't load it?

Personally, I'm not touching IE since it presents the largest attack surface for malware and other security vulnerability exploits. The first thing I do after clean Windows install is to uninstall Internet Explorer.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Snips
I've personally used all variants of the so called better alternative and I can hand on heart say they just don't cut it. The worse thing about the so called better alternative is the "Look at me!" "install me!" "upgrade me!" "Try this free!" nonsense. They are like a small child crying out for attention in a room full of children. As a result, at best it's adware at worst it's malware.

No idea what you're talking about. I use Chrome with AdBlock and Ghostery for everyday surfing and SandBoxied Opera for netbanking, and I haven't noticed any of that behaviour you mentioned.

Corky42 28th February 2013, 09:57

Quote:

Originally Posted by Snips
LMAO, love the anti-Microsoft brigade trying their hardest to ridicule a positive comment about Microsoft. IE is the only browser you need but there's some protest against it, why? Because it's Microsoft? Because your machine can't load it?

I've personally used all variants of the so called better alternative and I can hand on heart say they just don't cut it. The worse thing about the so called better alternative is the "Look at me!" "install me!" "upgrade me!" "Try this free!" nonsense. They are like a small child crying out for attention in a room full of children. As a result, at best it's adware at worst it's malware.

There is a reason for the anti-Microsoft brigade. IE is a really bad piece of software it breaks features in there own OS, it fails to load some web sites. http://news.softpedia.com/news/Internet-Explorer-10-for-Windows-7-Completely-Kills-Aero-333093.shtml

And all this was reported to M$ in the preview build but still they release this buggie POS.

BentAnat 28th February 2013, 10:08

I use IE all the time at the office, mainly due to the software admins going all Nazi on any browser they can't control nicely with group policies.
IE10 is better than IE9, which is better than IE8, etc.
MS has mentioned that they might look into background updating (probably with windows update then) - CBA to find the source of that now.

At home, I use Safari, mainly because it's default on my mac and works a charm - though I also have FF installed there.

as for breaking aero and not loading certain websites: I have yet not seen any of that... and I have used it since Beta.

rollo 28th February 2013, 12:45

Don't care for Internet explorer used Firefox since its release i won't be changing anytime soon.

mikemaher205 28th February 2013, 16:28

Count yourselves lucky... At my work we use IE6. Yes, version 6, six, it's not a mis-type.

Shirty 28th February 2013, 16:34

I don't mind which browser I use, just as long as I can find my way around. On Chrome across the board at the minute, it's quick and painless.

Nexxo 28th February 2013, 18:26

Quote:

Originally Posted by Snips
LMAO, love the anti-Microsoft brigade trying their hardest to ridicule a positive comment about Microsoft.

Well, that's not exactly true, is it? It is more a positive comment about Microsoft interlaced with some very negative comments about alternative browsers:

Quote:

Originally Posted by Snips
What a great thing for Microsoft to do. Offering the superior IE10 to Win7 consumers. You don't need any lame third party browser adware like chrome, firefox etc. etc. For those who, how did they put it "never looked back" or "never use it" you can't throw an opinion on how good the alternative is unless you've used the new version. Even IE9 was better than the supposed great alternatives.

or you can just keep your head in the sand, we won't miss you ;)

So you cannot blame the people you refer to for responding a bit, well, defensively.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Snips
IE is the only browser you need but there's some protest against it, why? Because it's Microsoft? Because your machine can't load it?

I've personally used all variants of the so called better alternative and I can hand on heart say they just don't cut it. The worse thing about the so called better alternative is the "Look at me!" "install me!" "upgrade me!" "Try this free!" nonsense. They are like a small child crying out for attention in a room full of children. As a result, at best it's adware at worst it's malware.

Personally I use Firefox because it has a whole useful and flexible range of add-ons (in-webpage unit conversion, download manager, open-text-as-link script etc) and it syncs bookmarks. I occasionally use Chrome if I need something quick and lean; it also works very smoothly with Google web-based services, and syncs bookmarks. Both update in the background.

Previous versions of IE were a bit clumsy (accelerators were a disaster). IE10 is better than previous versions but it needs a bit more work.

PingCrosby 1st March 2013, 16:21

Erm, so should I update my WorldWideWeb version 1 then?