After a year since the first release of Internet Explorer 9 preview which is crippled in most functions and don’t even have an address bar, Microsoft has finally decided to release the final stable version of Internet Explorer 9. I guess most of you already know about the release since this news is practically mentioned in a lot of tech websites but if you don’t, you should definitely update Internet Explorer 8 to 9 even if you don’t use it at all. Reason is some third party software uses the Internet Explorer engine to work properly and also Internet Explorer has always been a part of Windows. There are more pros than cons in having an updated latest version of Internet Explorer on a Windows system.
First of all, the most notable improvement in Internet Explorer 9 compared to Internet Explorer 8 is the speed of opening new windows and tabs. You will be able to notice the difference without even using a benchmark tool to time the opening of new IE9 windows or tabs. The Internet Explorer developers are finally willing to improve the download manager by adding pausing and resuming capability which is already available to most popular web browsers. Internet Explorer 9 also scored very well (95/100) in Acid3 which is a test to see how well a web browser follows certain selected elements from web standards. Internet Explorer 8 failed miserably with only 20/100. You can also now search for keywords directly from the address bar which by default uses the Bing search engine. You can easily change that to Google or other search engine by clicking on the small magnifying glass icon at the end of the address bar and then click at the Google icon.
You can download the full standalone version (but not offline installer) of Internet Explorer 9 from this link. You can download Internet Explorer 9 in the language that matches your version of Windows or choose the English version, which works with all versions of Windows Vista and Windows 7. Although the download links for IE9 seems to be the full standalone version, but the installation of Windows Internet Explorer 9 still requires an internet connection to download additional prerequisite software and components, based on the destination operating system.
If for some reason Internet Explorer 9 don’t work for you due to old software that needs IE8 or older, then you can uninstall IE9 by typing Programs and Features in the search box, click on “Turn Windows features on or off” at the left pane, and uncheck Internet Explorer 9 listed at Windows Features box. You will get a warning saying “Turning off Internet Explorer 9 might affect other Windows features and programs installer on your computer including default settings. Do you want to continue?”. Click Yes button to confirm uninstalling IE9.
I’m using Vista(also Win7 ) and I’m afraid to update to IE9, as I’m not sure if some programs will ask for old compatibility with IE8. Yes I read how to remove IE9, but still not 100% trust to do that.
Sure I do not use IE8 for my browsing, I’m using
Firefox,Safari, Opera, and Maxthon (which is using the IE8 engine, but with a VERY GREAT SPEED even better than other browsers such chrome or even fire fox)
You can download the “prerequisite” if you know where to look. It will say “activation check required” but you can download it directly if you know the exact download link.
This is nothing but a WGA/WAT link that tries to thwart the download till it “verified” your “legit”. Problem with that, is the tech isn’t very smart, & it gets lots of computers wrong.
Which is why I now have the total “offline” install of IE9.
Combined with WinRar SFX maker + Batch Icon Extractor, you can do wonders!
Too bad they didnt put more compatiblity in IE9 for html5 and css3, it still sucks bigtime on that, they wont get users back from other browsers like firefox, opera, etc..
Does IE9 run in WIndows XP?
I’m quite surprised with the performance of IE9. Awesome.
Hi Raymond, can you find a hack way to:
1. enable search bar.
2. turn off completely clear type
There is some blog that tell the new Chakra Java Script in IE 9 only available in 32 bit. It is true?
Thank you.
I have just download ie 9. I like ilt. thanks for share
Correction: although the installer downloaded from above links is approx 18 mb in size it still seems to download something from internet :-(
Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 32-bit .
download.microsoft.com/download/C/3/B/C3BF2EF4-E764-430C-BDCE-479F2142FC81/IE9-Windows7-x86-enu.exe
Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008 32-bit .
download.microsoft.com/download/0/8/7/08768091-35BC-48E0-9F7F-B9802A0EE2D6/IE9-WindowsVista-x86-enu.exe
As far as I know 64 bit version are still using the old java script engines as of now so may be it will a good idea to wait for some time before upgrading it ..
Great read! Thanks, But what up with Xray? Can you give us anymore info? A few tidbits of what this will be?
The best version of IE so far.
It’s good for those who have Vista and 7, bad news for those XP users. Actually without any biases, IE9 is better. BTW, in regards to the status bar, i prefer to hide it… Firefox 4 is too late, Chrome, IE, Opera already released their latest versions of their respective web browser.
Status bar is NOT missing!
Right click at top, check “status bar”.
Just because you don’t see something doesn’t necessarily mean it’s missing.
I agree with Peter. I followed the link and it’s only good for Windows 7 and Vista. Well unless 7 gets REALLY cheap or Microsoft offers free upgrades, I’m stuck with XP
Stay away from the evil Explorer 9. Here’s why: bit.ly/fTA3M3 & bit.ly/escAc9
East or West, Firefox 4 is the best.
:)
M$ sucks as always….
Long live firefox..
The main reason why Microsoft didn’t make IE9 compatible with XP is because XP is almost at the end of even the extended support that Microsoft is offering. There most likely won’t be anything else offered for XP other than “normal” security updates at this point. I realize that a lot of people still have systems that won’t support Vista or 7, but Microsoft is finally trying to put an end to XP.
For me personally, IE9 is running great on my Win 7 64-bit install on all of the sites that I have visited. That’s not to say that I won’t try something else, just that it’s running great for me right now.
Raymond hit the nail on the head though, he never said that everyone should switch to IE9 exclusively, just that IE8 users needed to upgrade to IE9.
Thanks for the info Raymond. :)
I am one of the 55% that still uses Win XP. I know Microsoft is trying to push the XP users to upgrading or buying new PC’s, but I am not financially able to do that right now.
It’s nice to know how Microsoft treats there customers by making security software aimed specifically for newer Windows versions. Microsoft needs to realize that everyone doesn’t have money to burn, some of us are barely getting by taking care of the necessities.
Just want to clarify this comment is NOT aimed at you Raymond.
Some day, some one is going to make a portable version of IE9 and XP users would then be able to use it :P
Firefox 4 for the win!
LOL.
Personally, I don’t have any reason to hate it. I’m using it just like the other browser and it works fine at least on my 4 boxes. The best ie version so far.
Thanks a bunch for this news Raymond!
I’ve been waiting months for IE9 to come out from beta, just installed it and simply runs like heaven. Thanks again!!!!
I agree with Peter as well…sigh. :/
So many of you misunderstood about this post. I am not forcing you to USE Internet Explorer 9, but merely just update it.
Forget IE 9 use mozilla fire fox……..
firefox4 is best
IE 9 sucks.. getting irritating.. hanging system while browsing..
firefox 4 s good.. iam using firefox always..
Chorme and safari going good…
opera 11 also eating CPU usage and hanging system
Status bar for IE9 is hidden by default. Right click on the titlebar and check Status Bar to display it.
@yaminogun: I tried accessing Yahoo Answers with IE9 and no lag problems.
For the other side of the coin, zdnet lists 5 reasons not to upgrade to IE9. Read the article at:
zdnet.com/blog/networking/five-reasons-not-to-8220upgrade-8221-to-windows-8217-internet-explorer-9/817?tag=nl.e539
I’m using Win XP so I can’t upgrade to IE9 but anyway. I want to thank you for your review and advice. Now, I’ve this question:
For users that still using Win XP… There’re some things (speaking of improvement and stability) we’re missing because we can’t make use of IE9 and there’re any alternatives available? I guess using an alternate web browser like FF4 but I would appreciate to know if I’m right.
Best regards to Mr Raymond and all other people here…
PS: Good review Mr yaminogun.
I stick with Chrome…
@yaminogun
i tried browsing from yahoo.com
and its not laggy
about the status bar, yeah its missing
chrome still faster .. didnt like IE 9 much
yes absolutely raymond,,,,this version is very fast as compared to others,,,,pages are loading in a fly,,,i m noticing it frm quite a few days and was just about to writ a post similar to this on my site,,,but u did it already,,,anyways thnxx
I agree with Peter.
Thanks for the update re IE9. This advice unfortunately will not be much use to the 55% of users still using XP.
Status Bar is missing in IE 9
seriously ie9 sucks!
but i know this
ie9 final : best/fastest html5 browser, hang on Yahoo! Answer
it always say ‘Yahoo.com is not responding’
ie9 eat 50% cpu usage at Yahoo! Answer
but after i disable active script. its not hang anymore
seriously ie9 still has bug when running javascript on Yahoo! Answer. hang not always happen. sometime it not hang. but 90% will hang and 10% not hang
chrome10 final : best/fastest javascript browser, hang on Yahoo! Answer when running javascript, so must add exception to not run javascript at Yahoo! Answer,
seriously, i want fix the javascript bug but i dont know how to fix javascript bug on ie9 final and chrome 10 final when running javascript at Yahoo! Answer.
sometime not hang just like ie9 final
firefox 4 rc : best reliablity browser. never hang Yahoo! Answer . alreadysupport gpu rendering/hardware acceleration
opera 11 : still stable at Yahoo Answer. i just use this to save bandwidth