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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.

See more CNET content tagged:
Netscape Communications Corp., Microsoft Internet Explorer, XML, XML file, Time Warner Inc.

Add a Comment (Log in or register) 100 comments (Showing first 20 comments)
"Dirty Tactics" Rubbish
by System Tyrant May 26, 2005 12:28 PM PDT
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.
Reply to this comment
"Dirty Tactics" Rubbish
by System Tyrant May 26, 2005 12:28 PM PDT
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.
Reply to this comment
Netscape and Microsoft
by richard mitnick May 26, 2005 12:57 PM PDT
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.
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Netscape and Microsoft
by richard mitnick May 26, 2005 12:57 PM PDT
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.
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Microsoft suggests uninstalling Netscape 8
by May 26, 2005 1:09 PM PDT
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..
Reply to this comment
Microsoft suggests uninstalling Netscape 8
by May 26, 2005 1:09 PM PDT
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..
Reply to this comment
IE VS. Netscape...Winner: FireFox
by ZeroJCF May 26, 2005 1:31 PM PDT
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?
Reply to this comment
IE VS. Netscape...Winner: FireFox
by ZeroJCF May 26, 2005 1:31 PM PDT
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?
Reply to this comment
Should be no problem.....
by Earl Benser May 26, 2005 1:43 PM PDT
... I disabled IE on all my PC's months ago. But I didn't install
Netscape. FireFox is the winner.
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Should be no problem.....
by Earl Benser May 26, 2005 1:43 PM PDT
... I disabled IE on all my PC's months ago. But I didn't install
Netscape. FireFox is the winner.
Reply to this comment View reply
Netscape 8
by MajorCB May 26, 2005 2:05 PM PDT
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
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Netscape 8
by MajorCB May 26, 2005 2:05 PM PDT
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
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IE breaks web standards!
by JuggerNaut May 26, 2005 2:10 PM PDT
So you should just uninstall or disable Internet Explorer and use a
web standards compliant browser (hence Firefox, etc...) until
further notice.
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IE breaks web standards!
by JuggerNaut May 26, 2005 2:10 PM PDT
So you should just uninstall or disable Internet Explorer and use a
web standards compliant browser (hence Firefox, etc...) until
further notice.
Reply to this comment View reply
solution...
by May 26, 2005 2:21 PM PDT
Use Safari.
Reply to this comment
solution...
by May 26, 2005 2:21 PM PDT
Use Safari.
Reply to this comment
Typical GREEDY M$
by May 26, 2005 2:41 PM PDT
This is sooo not suprising, it's just more of the same greedy, anti-competitive monopolistic BS from M$, the world's most digustingly avaricious company. I have really enjoyed watching their share price flatline over the last couple years, they much be getting desperate by resorting to cheesy tactics like this.
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Typical GREEDY M$
by May 26, 2005 2:41 PM PDT
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.
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Netscape Breaks IE
by guyd_pcmasters May 26, 2005 2:42 PM PDT
Reminiscent of the old days when "DOS isn't done until Lotus doesn't run!"
Reply to this comment
Netscape Breaks IE
by guyd_pcmasters May 26, 2005 2:42 PM PDT
Reminiscent of the old days when "DOS isn't done until Lotus doesn't run!"
Reply to this comment
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