May 26, 2005 11:46 AM PDT

Microsoft advises IE users to uninstall Netscape 8

Microsoft has alerted consumers that Netscape's latest browser appears to break the XML rendering capabilities in Microsoft Internet Explorer.

Dave Massy, a senior program manager for IE, warned users in a blog posting that after installing Netscape 8, IE will render XML files as a blank page, including XML files that have an XSLT transformation.

Microsoft did not make clear what versions of IE were affected, but a user of the DeveloperDex forum said he experienced the problem on version 6 of IE, which had been patched with Windows Service Pack 2.

Microsoft said it is investigating the problem and will work with Netscape to resolve it. It advised a "workaround" of uninstalling Netscape 8 and editing the registry settings.

One reader of the blog said the rendering problem could be a problem with IE, rather than Netscape. He suggested that such a feature could be useful for Microsoft as it would deter users considering a migration from IE to Netscape.

But another reader, Chris Beach, came to Microsoft's defense. "Cue endless conspiracy theories about Microsoft's 'dirty tactics.' Honestly, the rubbish you (Microsoft) have to put up with...my heart goes out to you guys. Keep up the good work with IE 7," he said.

This issue could be another blow to Netscape, which released Netscape 8 only two weeks ago. Just a day after launching Netscape 8 and touting the browser's security features, the company released an update to fix several serious flaws.

Ingrid Marson of ZDNet UK reported from London.

100 comments

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"Dirty Tactics" Rubbish
It might be rubbish if Microsoft hadn't ever done that in the past, but they have so I think it is more like burned once twice shy.

However I figure that this time it probably is just a bug that Microsoft and Netscape will work out. I don't think that Microsoft went out of it's way this time to make Netscape fail. However when version 7 is released that might be a different story.
Posted by System Tyrant (1453 comments )
Reply Link Flag
"Dirty Tactics" Rubbish
It might be rubbish if Microsoft hadn't ever done that in the past, but they have so I think it is more like burned once twice shy.

However I figure that this time it probably is just a bug that Microsoft and Netscape will work out. I don't think that Microsoft went out of it's way this time to make Netscape fail. However when version 7 is released that might be a different story.
Posted by System Tyrant (1453 comments )
Reply Link Flag
Netscape and Microsoft
I have been using Netscape 8 since the beta, now I am on 8.0.1. I do not know what this issue of .xml is about, unless someone gives me an example of something to do so I could test it.
Posted by richard mitnick (29 comments )
Reply Link Flag
using Netscape 8
<a class="jive-link-external" href="http://www.analogstereo.com/audi_owners_manual.htm" target="_newWindow">http://www.analogstereo.com/audi_owners_manual.htm</a>
Posted by George Cole (314 comments )
Link Flag
Netscape and Microsoft
I have been using Netscape 8 since the beta, now I am on 8.0.1. I do not know what this issue of .xml is about, unless someone gives me an example of something to do so I could test it.
Posted by richard mitnick (29 comments )
Reply Link Flag
using Netscape 8
<a class="jive-link-external" href="http://www.analogstereo.com/audi_owners_manual.htm" target="_newWindow">http://www.analogstereo.com/audi_owners_manual.htm</a>
Posted by George Cole (314 comments )
Link Flag
Microsoft suggests uninstalling Netscape 8
I haven't had any problems with Netscape 8. If there is a problem with Internet Explorer my suggestion is,"Uninstall Internet Explorer."

I use the latest versions of Mozilla, Mozilla Firefox , Netscape, and Mozilla. All four work fine, so I seldom use I.E..
Posted by (2 comments )
Reply Link Flag
Microsoft suggests uninstalling Netscape 8
I haven't had any problems with Netscape 8. If there is a problem with Internet Explorer my suggestion is,"Uninstall Internet Explorer."

I use the latest versions of Mozilla, Mozilla Firefox , Netscape, and Mozilla. All four work fine, so I seldom use I.E..
Posted by (2 comments )
Reply Link Flag
IE VS. Netscape...Winner: FireFox
Forget uninstalling IE, because there are too many sites that require it (YUK). I would have to say this is a Netscape problem and IE is not at fault. As a rule o' thumb, in the IT support world, if your system works before a software install and does not after it. Guess what?? The new software goes bye-bye. I think Netscape is terrible, worse than IE. Hopefully soon, the programmers/developers will get it right and FireFox will be able to work across all standards. Is there really a need for a browser, that should have died off 5 years ago?
Posted by ZeroJCF (51 comments )
Reply Link Flag
IE VS. Netscape...Winner: FireFox
Forget uninstalling IE, because there are too many sites that require it (YUK). I would have to say this is a Netscape problem and IE is not at fault. As a rule o' thumb, in the IT support world, if your system works before a software install and does not after it. Guess what?? The new software goes bye-bye. I think Netscape is terrible, worse than IE. Hopefully soon, the programmers/developers will get it right and FireFox will be able to work across all standards. Is there really a need for a browser, that should have died off 5 years ago?
Posted by ZeroJCF (51 comments )
Reply Link Flag
Should be no problem.....
... I disabled IE on all my PC's months ago. But I didn't install
Netscape. FireFox is the winner.
Posted by Earl Benser (4342 comments )
Reply Link Flag
Just disable IEs XML rendering engine in Netscape!
I found a simple solution: when netscape asks if you "Want to use IEs XML rendering engine to render web pages in netscape just click no.

Its that simple. ;)
Posted by msims (61 comments )
Link Flag
Should be no problem.....
... I disabled IE on all my PC's months ago. But I didn't install
Netscape. FireFox is the winner.
Posted by Earl Benser (4342 comments )
Reply Link Flag
Just disable IEs XML rendering engine in Netscape!
I found a simple solution: when netscape asks if you "Want to use IEs XML rendering engine to render web pages in netscape just click no.

Its that simple. ;)
Posted by msims (61 comments )
Link Flag
Netscape 8
Can Not get 8 to stay up and running so its gone IE is gone Firefox and MSN(IE) don't work with some sites Java Problems they cail. So it OPERA the All around does everything for me
Posted by MajorCB (14 comments )
Reply Link Flag
Me too
Opera 8 is almost perfect. It does have an occassional fault - but not as bad as some browsers. I've used it OK on banking &#38; online brokerage sites (identifying it as IE) and it's pretty much OK.

But as someone else said - if existing software worked before and doesn't work AFTER something else is installed - the something else goes. It doesn't matter if the newly installed product works OK in isolation. It's up to the developers of the new software to fix their product........if they want ME to use it. (Or they could convince the millions of other developers to cater for their new product).
Posted by (409 comments )
Link Flag
Java Problems
<a class="jive-link-external" href="http://www.analogstereo.com/audi_rs6_owners_manual.htm" target="_newWindow">http://www.analogstereo.com/audi_rs6_owners_manual.htm</a>
Posted by George Cole (314 comments )
Link Flag
Netscape 8
Can Not get 8 to stay up and running so its gone IE is gone Firefox and MSN(IE) don't work with some sites Java Problems they cail. So it OPERA the All around does everything for me
Posted by MajorCB (14 comments )
Reply Link Flag
Me too
Opera 8 is almost perfect. It does have an occassional fault - but not as bad as some browsers. I've used it OK on banking &#38; online brokerage sites (identifying it as IE) and it's pretty much OK.

But as someone else said - if existing software worked before and doesn't work AFTER something else is installed - the something else goes. It doesn't matter if the newly installed product works OK in isolation. It's up to the developers of the new software to fix their product........if they want ME to use it. (Or they could convince the millions of other developers to cater for their new product).
Posted by (409 comments )
Link Flag
Java Problems
<a class="jive-link-external" href="http://www.analogstereo.com/audi_rs6_owners_manual.htm" target="_newWindow">http://www.analogstereo.com/audi_rs6_owners_manual.htm</a>
Posted by George Cole (314 comments )
Link Flag
IE breaks web standards!
So you should just uninstall or disable Internet Explorer and use a
web standards compliant browser (hence Firefox, etc...) until
further notice.
Posted by JuggerNaut (591 comments )
Reply Link Flag
I.E. is standard
whatever you're talking about regarding open standards (w3c) is utterly irrelevant. I.E. is the defacto standard and is the default browser for 80% + internet users. Any browser that wishes to compete must take into account that most, if not all, webpages are designed around I.E.
Posted by mortis9 (370 comments )
Link Flag
IE breaks web standards!
So you should just uninstall or disable Internet Explorer and use a
web standards compliant browser (hence Firefox, etc...) until
further notice.
Posted by JuggerNaut (591 comments )
Reply Link Flag
I.E. is standard
whatever you're talking about regarding open standards (w3c) is utterly irrelevant. I.E. is the defacto standard and is the default browser for 80% + internet users. Any browser that wishes to compete must take into account that most, if not all, webpages are designed around I.E.
Posted by mortis9 (370 comments )
Link Flag
solution...
Use Safari.
Posted by (6 comments )
Reply Link Flag
solution...
Use Safari.
Posted by (6 comments )
Reply Link Flag
Typical GREEDY M$
This is sooo not suprising, it's just more of the same greedy, anti-competitive monopolistic BS from M$, the world's most digustingly avaricious company. I have really enjoyed watching their share price flatline over the last couple years, they much be getting desperate by resorting to cheesy tactics like this.
Posted by (2 comments )
Reply Link Flag
Are you an idiot ?
In what way did M$ do something wrong, when THEY had the established browser ? Were they supposed to be psychic ? Are they supposed to cater for every other piece of software that may be released IN THE FUTURE ???

As for someone elses comment about web standards - just as history is written by the winners - standards are set by the biggest bully in the school yard. That would be M$, in the case of browsers.
Posted by (409 comments )
Link Flag
Typical GREEDY M$
This is sooo not suprising, it's just more of the same greedy, anti-competitive monopolistic BS from M$, the world's most digustingly avaricious company. I have really enjoyed watching their share price flatline over the last couple years, they much be getting desperate by resorting to cheesy tactics like this.
Posted by (2 comments )
Reply Link Flag
Are you an idiot ?
In what way did M$ do something wrong, when THEY had the established browser ? Were they supposed to be psychic ? Are they supposed to cater for every other piece of software that may be released IN THE FUTURE ???

As for someone elses comment about web standards - just as history is written by the winners - standards are set by the biggest bully in the school yard. That would be M$, in the case of browsers.
Posted by (409 comments )
Link Flag
Netscape Breaks IE
Reminiscent of the old days when "DOS isn't done until Lotus doesn't run!"
Posted by guyd_pcmasters (2 comments )
Reply Link Flag
Netscape Breaks IE
Reminiscent of the old days when "DOS isn't done until Lotus doesn't run!"
Posted by guyd_pcmasters (2 comments )
Reply Link Flag
Massy, a senior program manager for IE...
So _he's_ to blame!

Has this group been on vacation the last few YEARS?
Posted by technewsjunkie (1211 comments )
Reply Link Flag
Massy, a senior program manager for IE...
So _he's_ to blame!

Has this group been on vacation the last few YEARS?
Posted by technewsjunkie (1211 comments )
Reply Link Flag
Reading Comprehension
The story says IE is broken... not Netscape. So for all the people
wondering avbout Microsoft's dirty tactics and why their Netscape
works..... read the story again.... it is IE that is broken after a
Netscape instal....
Posted by 198775425444042216790779840523 (102 comments )
Reply Link Flag
I can read
But did the Netscape guys either -

A) not test enough to find the problem or

B) find the problem &#38; say "what the hell, lets release anyway &#38; break IE" ?

That seems to make them either incompetent, negligent or malicious.
Posted by (409 comments )
Link Flag
Reading Comprehension
The story says IE is broken... not Netscape. So for all the people
wondering avbout Microsoft's dirty tactics and why their Netscape
works..... read the story again.... it is IE that is broken after a
Netscape instal....
Posted by 198775425444042216790779840523 (102 comments )
Reply Link Flag
I can read
But did the Netscape guys either -

A) not test enough to find the problem or

B) find the problem &#38; say "what the hell, lets release anyway &#38; break IE" ?

That seems to make them either incompetent, negligent or malicious.
Posted by (409 comments )
Link Flag
XML
Microsoft had always had a problem with XML. The other one is codec packs. From the gamer's perspective I had more problems with Microsoft games than all other games I played.
Either XML or Codecs. I'm not sure but I suspect that if they wanted they could prevent these incompatibilities. If everyone were using standards we'd have none of this.
Posted by (92 comments )
Reply Link Flag
 

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