Addons

[frostyspecs]

A few weeks back on the advice of some members I installed Firefox and IE8, but use mainly firefox as getting used to it. On IE a note says "without addons" what are they and do I need them if I do how do I install it/them TIA

[gen2]

The addons are needed for such things as java aplets and flash. I just downloaded mine as I needed them. If you go onto a webpage that has a feature that the core version of Firefox does not support, then it displays a green jugsaw piece in place of the missing action. Just double-click on that and you will be prompted to download the required addon.

[Ethel]

IE without add ons is simply a 'safe mode' if you are having problems with IE crashing - it doesn't start the flash player, active x, toolbars and so on that may be causing problems.

It is a feature new to IE7 and has been carried on in IE8
Good info here:

http://blogs.msdn.com/ie/archive/2008/03/20/ad d-on-management-improvements-in-internet-explo rer-8.aspx

[ACtheTROLL]

frosty old thing .... double whammy .....!!!!!!!!!!
which idiot recommended installing a beta version of Microsoft's software?????

you might just as well throw your machine through the window.

firefox isn't to my taste (I have reasons!) ... but if you are getting along .... fine

As for your BETA ie8 ... the way it goes is
pre-release
beta1
beta2
beta ...3...4... (depends on how unstable it turns out to be)
release canditate1 ...2....3 ... (again depends)
Final release .... (and the smart money says give it a week or two to see how it goes before trying on a "real" machine

the only people who seriously risk beta1 (generally) are geeks, people in the trade.... who generally use a (2nd)machine that doesn't have anything important on it.
bl**dy idiots.... and people who unknowingly follow the advice of bl**dy idiots.

It's a really nasty trick to recommend beta software to someone who isn't fully aware of the risks ... and how to either solve (or rebuild) a problem machine.

the biggest trouble is that windows and explorer are in effect the same thing ... (type an url into windows explorer or a folder path into IE .... and see) so if you get an unstable explorer version (likely when still in beta) you're likely to screw up your whole system - will it uninstall? - my machine is at work ... so can't look to see.

I keep a couple of machines at work for testing new software ... they never last long before the next re-build

Frosty ... back up anything important .... and then cross everything .....

[frostyspecs]

Thanks "sign on, ethel and AC" I am a bit confused if IE is betta why can`t I just uninstall it and go back to `7` which I know quite well. TIA

[ACtheTROLL]

frosty

If it will uninstall ... do
but because of how IE is integrated into all versions of windows uninstalling can be more a case of hiding and not removing - even if you revert to an earlier version.

(look in add remove windows components ... the option to install/uninstall IE is there ... but the discspace required is 0 and the wording is "add or remove ACCESS to IE")

this is why I say only install beta software (and esp IE beta) on a machine that doesn't matter - cause often it's a crash and burn uninstall

of the versions 7 is probably the best IE option (but quite tightly tied down - 6 actually allows more leeway if popups are "a must") ....

the old reasons for installing firefox (security ... not just flipping the digit to bill!!) are actually self destructive 'cause now it's become so popular - it's just as much a target as IE - (and partly why linux is now rated as having more exploitable vulnerabilities than windows) - a victim of it's own success.