IE 8 Beta 2 not without its faults

One day after Microsoft released the second public beta for Internet Explorer 8, readers have contacted CNET News with warnings about its installation and sites and services that are incompatible. While such behavior is expected of beta software, some problems appear to exist within Microsoft services themselves.

Microsoft acknowledges some of this. In a blog on Wednesday, Microsoft IE developers explain how IE 8 users running Windows XP SP3 will not be able to downgrade back to IE 7 without uninstalling the service pack first. Indeed, depending on which version of Windows a person has, 32-bit or 64-bit edition, it will require specific steps to either install or remove the browser. For example, Windows Vista users must be running SP1 before installing IE 8 Beta 2.

Known issues with Internet Explorer 8 Beta 2 can be found in knowledgebase article 949787 and include problems with ClearType, exiting out of Windows Live Mail (Hotmail), and various problems when using search.

Windows Live Meeting doesn't recognize Internet Explorer 8 Beta 2 as one of its supported browsers.

Among the more embarrassing user-reported problems is one using Windows Live Meeting 2007 with IE 8 Beta 2 installed. CNET News has confirmed that Live Meeting, both using the Web-based and client download version, does not run under Internet Explorer 8 Beta 2. Nor does the built-in compatibility feature within IE 8 Beta 2 correct the glitch.

Another user-reported problem accessing Netflix "Watch Now," an online streaming feature.

Are there other significant services that will not run within this new browser? Share your comments below.

For those wanting to test Internet Explorer 8 Beta 2 themselves, CNET Download has the link.

[alex1350]

Here is one: McAfee Anti Vivrus. It's working normal but when you make the McAfee window pop up. Nothing is in there but it's still pertecting the PC and it's doing it's job but you can't do nothing with it manualy since when you make the window pop up. Nothing is there.

[Airforce194]

Alex I have that same problem, I reinstalled McAfee not thinking it could be because I installed IE8 and it still shows up as a white screen.

[swanrunner]

Yes I have this problem also. McAfee and IE8 beta must not be compatible.

[mikem2341]

Same issue here, McAfee will not support Beta version of most apps. Can't live without McAfee so will just have to wait for final version. Typical non-communication within their own industry!
Google's new Chrome will have same issues, so be aware...

[DaniBates]

Same issue for me; Our cable company in the Phoenix metro area offers "McAfee Security Center" unfortunately. When I contacted tech support (this link wasn't here at the time) there was no effort in the McAfee land to work on their interface... yeehaw!

[flyingfoxlee]

It always exit without any reason

[sciontcya]

Hence, the term beta.
Look it up.

[skillingssucks]

Quote from the article, Einstein: "While such behavior is expected of beta software, some problems appear to exist within Microsoft services themselves."

Perhaps you should invest in some reading comprehension classes? Go away now, cluetard!

[CrashPad63]

HeySkillignsucks, "cluetard" read what you quoted again. Even this hack job of an article acknowledges that it is Beta, and as Beta any and all Apps are subject to glitches. You seem to be a "reasonable" fellow, please refrain from bullying, sciontcya has just as much right to post here as "you".

[soonerskeene]

I tried to go to my.live.com (Microsoft's personalized page to compete with iGoogle), and it gave me no sign-in link, the page was clearly broken (the Live Search bar's 'search button' had no text and was only a few pixels wide). For some reason, the "compatibility mode" button was missing from the end of the address bar -- but only when going to that page (did they program it to not allow compatibility when using a MS webpage?). I was able to manually add the URL to the compatibility list and get the page to work, but that's unacceptable.

[krushyou]

Its still beta again its bad on MS part for not thinking ahead on this but when the product goes Final and it still exists then you can complain for now report it to MS instead of complaining about it on a message board.

[Lerianis]

No, it is not broken. I went to that page to sign up for a new e-mail address (one of my old ones got banned from a forum for some stupid reason, so I had to get a new one) and I was able to sign up fine with IE8B2. Logging in was also fine.

[krushyou]

It still only exists in IE8, cluetard, if you do not install a BETA product it works fine, yes it is poor on MS that it doesn't work with some of their services but still when testing a BETA product there are all kinds of glitches that can come up.

[CrashPad63]

Is this article for real? Comeon Cnet this is not reporting, using baited words "more embarrassing" Cnet bets will have problems, that is why there is this process. Or dont you get that? I know Apple sure dosent... look at the Iphone mess, MobileMe, Leapord still is in beta, as well as Safari. Do we need to go on?
Lets be objective in reporting now, leave the subjective observations to the know it all blog pundits in this world.

[MadCowPenis]

I totally agree with you? I went to install it on my 64 bit computer and the whole back side of my house fell apart. Then once it completed installation, the rest of my house went up in flames. Yeah, it was so weird. So I decided to uninstall IE 8 and the left side of my body disappeared. I had to type this response with my right hand. I not sure I would recommend downloading IE 8 Beta just yet.

[rdunn]

'house fell apart'
WoW. That didn't happen to me... seems to work perfect, wurk prefect, werx prrfeck, wrx pfeck, wrx, wrr,w...
Hilp!

[ballmerisanape]

You have to downgrade your OS just to uninstall a web browser? Will MS ever change??? When I want to uninstall a web browser.. I just drag it to the trash. MS should have "borrowed" that concept a long time ago.

[rdunn]

No MS won't be a Mac. So why do you care?
Oops... sorry. Must have been IEhate made me do it.

[Lerianis]

Downgrade your OS to install a web browser? Pardon my french but.... what the F**** are you talking about? I installed IE8B2 on Vista Home Premium SP1, no problems...... you do not have to downgrade your OS to install a web browser.

[ballmerisanape]

"Microsoft acknowledges some of this. In a blog on Wednesday, Microsoft IE developers explain how IE 8 users running Windows XP SP3 will not be able to downgrade back to IE 7 without uninstalling the service pack first."

If you have SP3, you have to revert back to SP2 in order to dump IE 8. I know it's complicated... but, hey, would MS have it any other way?

[Lerianis]

Now, that is just plain old stupid on Microsoft's part..... you shouldn't have to revert back to SP2 in order to uninstall IE8B2.... someone is going to get their ass chewed out over that at Microsoft.

[LetsReason]

Easy to take pot-shots at something much, MUCH bigger than you. You don't understand what is involved and so your comments are totally askew.

And don't worry, I'm sure Microsoft will "borrow" whatever good ideas Jobs and crew come up with at some point. And I'll be able to continue using the most compatible OS in the world while having all the "luxuries" you enjoy in your LITTLE Mac World.

Interesting, if one takes time to check out TEDTalks and to see what is "coming up" in technology, I've seen people lay claim to the touch screen interface for the iPhone for Apple when it has been in development at university level research for a while. Apple simply jumped on the bandwagon early to appear tech-savvy. Microsoft is now looking to add support for full monitor touch screen technology of the same sort.

"Will MS ever change???" While some change is good, and Microsoft is not perfect, I hope they don't. I've been able to depend on them for years.

[CnetBSU]

ITS Beta.... Microsoft will get it right.

[skillingssucks]

Yeah uh-huh, 'cause they always do, right?

[CrashPad63]

No one gets it right 100% of the time, Beta are there for that, let people in real world situstions take it for a spin. To be sarcastic about it is the sign of a fool.

[donald17]

Right off, when IE8 is used in conjunction with MS Expression Web 2 to test view, the browser does not render the page layout correctly. It's like the

aren't there.

[joltinjoe77]

Robert Vamosi wrote:
"Are there other significant services that will not run within this new browser?"

What new browser? This is a beta of a new browser, it is not the new browser. It's a wonder that companies even release public betas any more given morons who download them to their main personal or production computers and then complain publicly when the beta exhibits bugs or lacks features.

[benjwah]

Maybe Google is partly to blame, they're the kings of the "Perpetual Beta", where they call their (basically) finished products "Beta" in order to avoid scrutiny and responsibility for stuff-ups.
Maybe that's why people expect IE8 Beta2 to run like a finished product. And then complain when it runs like a Beta.

[ruoppster]

the reason companies release PUBLIC BETAS is so that people install and report any problems....that way they can work on fixing these issues so the final release of the product is better - so you dont run into these types of problems with a final application. The only thing that you have right within your post is that it shouldnt be their main account or within their production computers....but most home users dont have a dedicated testing machine like you would find in company environments....

[mik661]

you still would expect that it would be compatible with that companies own products. IE 8 wont even display msn.com for me.

[ArchieMiller]

I don?t want to be one of those who bash Microsoft just because they?re an easy target, but I couldn?t help but snicker when I loaded IE 8 beta and saw the broken ?Welcome? page. You?d think they?d want that first page to work, especially in a beta.

See the original screen shots here: http://www.projectshuns.com/?p=24

I wish them the best. I know beta release can be painful.

[charandhavil]

Haaaaa,that is why they called it Beta ....... Microsoft is best.Try downloading Fire Fox Beta next time.

[assclownbush]

IE sucks but. . .Firefox 3 does too.

[jml19]

I'm sure they'll eventually get the bugs worked out; what concerns me more is the interface. It's STILL not customizable. I want as little as possible on top; tabs, a basic text menu, a few select buttons, and the address bar. I can set this up with Firefox, but not IE. Microsoft makes you keep the search box in the upper right, forces the favorites button next to the address bar, forces the address bar to be on the top (above the menu) and other bizarre things that have always annoyed me with IE 7.

When I purchased my last laptop it came with Vista pre-installed. I vowed to try to get to like it and not be too hasty to install XP or Linux. I vowed to use IE and other default MS apps in an effort to give them a chance. It was going good for awhile (aside from a couple registry hacks being necessary to fix a driver issue on the DVD burner and add compatibility with my Mac's SMB file sharing), but IE 8 convinced me to install Firefox 3...

[jlumbley]

Running Vista SP1, once I installed IE8Beta, I kept getting program errors everytime I started up IE. It would abort the program and I had no browser at all. Ended up uninstalling this POS. IE8 is a worse product than Vista, and that's pretty bad.

[Lerianis]

Funny... you are the only one thus far who I have seen who is having that problem. Now, I have gotten a few "page needed to be recoverd" errors in IE8B2 (some on Microsoft sites, which is kinda.... strange), but no program errors.

[DrtyDogg]

I hope you filed bug reports about your problems with this BETA software so that they can improve this "POS."

[magwa999]

I have found nothing but great improvements and a faster browser. No glitches yet and I like the new features. When I read these reviews I wonder if it is just four year olds posting. You want some cheese with that whine. Of course cnet is no better dealing with the beta. MS could still be doing a better job.

[thljcl]

I don't have such problem. I'm running Windows Vista Home Premium Service Pack 1. I understand that normal user won't take an effort to figure out what is going on. You can blame IE8 beta 2 but I can tell you the reason is certainly not IE8 beta 2.

[Lerianis]

Yeah, I have to agree. Most of the 'problems' I have encountered aren't problems with IE8B2 but with some websites using ActiveX controls and the like that IE8B2 doesn't like. Most notable: Microsoft's own Live Safety Center, also known as the Windows OneCare Online Virus Scanner site. It doesn't work in IE8B2, but that's pretty much because of the ActiveX control doing something 'weird' in the browser.

[goodspeed8701]

sometimes i wonder if mac users use their mac at all. when M$ comes out with a product they will be the first to post on their xperience. this is a better guys i dont see you talking about the final of mobilemess besides i am using it. the only problem i have is not that compactible with somepages but using it with my opera i am so ok i like it more than FF and IE7 and safari put together. and i also like the job so M$ can fix what u r complaining of. remember its a beta than is better than safari and FF. mac users use ur product and stop using bootcamp

[bajanx]

I have no issues so far and like it. I not searching for issues either just sufing and trying the new features. Very nice indeed.