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How to download a web browser in Windows 7 E (which doesn't come with its own browser)

Rafael offers up an interesting step-by-step guide to finding a web browser in the supposedly browser-less Windows 7 E Editions, which will be afflicting folks in Europe in about 3 months:

Mom and Dad will likely get a pre-built machine, by either a popular manufacturer or their kids, so this isn’t a problem for them. Us, on the other hand, are incredibly lazy. We won’t want to bend down and grab one of a million USB fobs. Or put yet another executable on our NAS. Or heaven forbid, waste a CD. We need something clever.

Step 1 – Launch (and configure) Windows Media Player

Step 2 – Search for your browser, using the Windows Media Guide

Step 3 – Click an ad, download your browser

Read the original post for the full details, of course. Good stuff.

My advice, however, is to just avoid this silliness and download a browser before installing Windows 7 E, copy it to a USB thumb drive or whatever, and just plug it in after the OS is up and running.

BTW: Anyone who mentions the word "Trident" like that's news just doesn't get it. Windows Media Player has long been documented to use the IE rendering engine. And Microsoft has been very upfront that the Windows 7 E Editions do not have IE, the application, but do have the underlying rendering technologies required by other applications.

Comments

 

AeroXperience » Blog Archive » Rafael accidentally discovers Trident in Windows 7 E said:

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July 16, 2009 10:44 PM
 

robertsjoe said:

Here are two the best options for Windows 7 E users:

http://www.google.com/chrome

http://www.apple.com/safari/

Why compromise by going with the inferior IE8?

July 16, 2009 11:00 PM
 

Saucy said:

Instructions:

-Buy the October 2009 edition of  Sore and Hard Done By EU Computer Users of Briton Magazine  .. the one with the CD ROM attached to a pocket on the back page.

-Insert into CD/DVD Drive.

-Run IE 8's setup.exe file.

July 16, 2009 11:24 PM
 

Saucy said:

@robertsjoe

The reason I use IE 8 is simple: Macs suck.

July 16, 2009 11:28 PM
 

yert said:

@Saucy

That wouldn't make any sense if I didn't know who robertsjoe was (i.e. a Mac fanboy), but since I do, I laughed. And laughed. And laughed some more.

July 16, 2009 11:52 PM
 

kent909 said:

Boy was I ticked off when I found out the EU was not going to let Apple include Safari in the next version of OS X. Oh wait a minute I'm mean Win 7 and IE8. The EU does not have an issue with Apple, just MS. I wonder why?

July 17, 2009 12:34 AM
 

vinski- said:

kent909: Because in the EU nobody gives a s**t about Apple.

July 17, 2009 12:55 AM
 

whiplash55 said:

Making fun of the EU is almost like picking on a child. I like the FTP from command line solution, detailed instructions should be shipped with every Windows based PC in Europe courtesy of the EU's fairness Nazi's.

July 17, 2009 1:13 AM
 

Balthazar9 said:

Paul wrote “Read the original post for the full details, of course. Good stuff.”

HA, HA and you guys call yourself geeks ???? Embarrassment!

I’ll attempt to gently walk you through some simple steps...

Press and hold down the windows key on your keyboard while simultaneously depressing the letter E

This will bring up Windows Explores that is the windows file system manager.  

Now type www dot Google dot com ... I mean www dot Bing dot com.

Next step -  type “internet browser.”  Several million page hits should come back.

Some browsers I recommend:

http://kmeleon.sourceforge.net  an excellent Firefox derivative only faster in everyway that matter.

http://www.avantbrowser.com  an exceptional IE derivative

www.ioage.com/twen  another IE derivative only far superior than anything MS could conceive of.

stadt-bremerhaven.de/download-manager.php

Google Chrome Portable v.2.0.172.33

Naturally, all are FREE but for Mike we’ll charge a M$ special assessment fee so as not to offend his turbo capitalists’ ideals.

July 17, 2009 1:52 AM
 

sjaak327 said:

LOL Safari, even on OSX the worst browser to use.

I am still betting MS will deliver IE8 through Windows update, surely that shouldn't be any problem legally ?

July 17, 2009 1:57 AM
 

Windows 7 Blog » How to download a web browser in Windows 7 E (which doesn’t come with its own browser) said:

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July 17, 2009 2:00 AM
 

g6672D said:

Earlier, I did try Safari in a spare XP VM. It's fast and simple for users, which would appeal to them. But that's just saying it's competent, nothing more.

It's still useful for web designers who need to check their pages render correctly on different setups. As a general browser? Not really.

July 17, 2009 3:06 AM
 

How to download a web browser in Windows 7 E (which doesn???t come with its own browser) | Windows Seven 7 said:

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July 17, 2009 3:28 AM
 

Mark KB said:

@Balthazar9: The last operating system that would have worked on is Windows XP, pre-IE7. Now it launches your default browser.

If you try and do that in Windows 7 E, you'd get this error:

www.winsupersite.com/.../win7_7048_02_07.jpg

July 17, 2009 4:50 AM
 

realtestman said:

Balthazar9, you fool.  Since IE7 on XP (and since Vista came out), Windows Explorer no longer uses the engine that powers IE.  If you type in the URL into the address bar it simply launches the default browser (which there isn't any).  But then you'd know that, if you actually had Windows.

July 17, 2009 6:47 AM
 

panache1023 said:

"Since IE7 on XP (and since Vista came out), Windows Explorer no longer uses the engine that powers IE.  If you type in the URL into the address bar it simply launches the default browser (which there isn't any)."

And this is exactly why the EU should lay off MS's inclusion of IE.

July 17, 2009 7:50 AM
 

CyBrett said:

People are making such a big deal about this.  

First of all Europe needs to grow up.  If you want to use another browser than just download one...seriously.  Who cares if the other one can't be uninstalled just don't use it.  

Second, I think for the most part this is not going to be a huge issue.  I think the larger percentage of people will be upgrading along with a new machine rather than with a reinstall.  That means that manufactuers are going to be able to choose what browsers to install or offer the option at purchase.  What happens when HP or Dell only offer IE and not their precious Opera or FF?  Take that Europe!!!  Zing.

July 17, 2009 8:23 AM
 

DRWAM said:

I wonder if you could use Win 7 Microsoft Update to DL IE 8

July 17, 2009 8:39 AM
 

lketchum said:

CyBtrett,

Pre-orders for Windows 7 upgrades were sold out on Amazon U.K. within a week of availability.

news.bbc.co.uk/.../8151342.stm

This Windows cycle seems to be quite different from XP to Vista and there appears to be significant demand for Windows 7.

I agree with your other observations and question whether the EC's actions are truly in the best interests of consumers within the EU. It is however, a collection of socialist democracies and their actions are consistent with that political ideology and unsurprising.

The people voted long before there was a Windows - so in a very real sense, the issue of IE 8 on Windows 7 was decided before Bill Gates and Paul Allen wrote their BASIC interpreter.

Soon you yourself will only be able to use your computer for personal use between the hours of 9 and 11 PM (adjusted for local time), on Wednesdays, but only if you have first unplugged your refrigerator and your blood alcohol level is below acceptable international standards. Your 1.6 gallon per flush toilet will have been fitted with a urine sampling device designed to ensure your blood sugar levels are within specified limits - so you may actually be able to sit down while using the computer - otherwise you'll have to stand and run in place. All these details are on page 1666, paragraph three, sub-section (a) of your citizens handbook and as promulgated within the 1300 unread pages of the cap and trade bill. There is additional language explaining this and the 18 euro / 23 USD, surcharge now evident on the invoice from your ISP. If you have trouble finding it, it is right under para two, artfully presented in green, which explains that before you may view web pages of your own choosing, that you must first read for fifteen minutes from among three government websites warning of the dangers of computer use and its impact on the earth. Para 1 above that provides walking directions to your nearest pub, where I am sure you will find most of your neighbors already well oiled.

Walking directions to local pubs were added at the insistence of the Christian democrats and despite sharp protests from social democrats in parliament, because as they argued: “The beer is cheap (and good) and going home to one’s 400 square foot apartment and watching a 9” television that one hides in the closet when they hear that the THK wagon is on their street, does understandably suck.”

July 17, 2009 9:55 AM
 

de Silentio said:

Even though Microsoft doesn't bundle a browser, can OEMs bundle a browser pre-installed.  Or perhaps include media that has browser software (be it a IE or a browser chooser).

If I'm an inexperienced user I'm going to blame Dell or HP for not having my computer work, not Microsoft.

July 17, 2009 10:10 AM
 

de Silentio said:

Sorry, I guess CyBrett beat me to it.

July 17, 2009 10:11 AM
 

sjaak327 said:

"I agree with your other observations and question whether the EC's actions are truly in the best interests of consumers within the EU. It is however, a collection of socialist democracies and their actions are consistent with that political ideology and unsurprising."

Neelie Smit Kroes is everything except a socialist, and last time I looked, there aren't that many socialist governments in Europe. And the few that are from that part of the political spetrum, have zero interest in these matters.

Democracy certainly has little to do with it in any case..

July 17, 2009 11:35 AM
 

CyBrett said:

Iketchum,

I like your legalease humor.  One comment on the pre-sales though....someone else mentioned this, but...how can you sell out of a product that you don't even have yet?  Why would Microsoft even let them sell out?  They should be trying to sell as many of these things as possible before October.

July 17, 2009 11:52 AM
 

EricoF3 said:

@Saucy: please don't be silly like Mac users ... Don't enter this kind of game please!!

July 17, 2009 12:03 PM
 

lketchum said:

CyBrett,

Simple. A company sets sales goals and effects a marketing and sales strategy to get a market to respond as it desires.

Microsoft wanted to actualize sales revenue now - in this quarter and at the same time energize and excite the target market.

The quantity is entirely artificial, but certainly planned and tied to their revenue projections.

There is a balance and several related goals:

Generate revenue now

Energize the market as you test the same

Provide enough time and data to adjust your strategies

(hence all the noise about upgrade options)

Slow what would have been blunted Vista sales as people wait for 7, but at the same time, do not cut too deeply into at launch sales, which would hurt OEM's - upgrades after all, are not tied to new PC's.

These are just a few off the top of my head, but each I think is sound and consistent with what is going on.

Oh... and (no intentional hit on him really) “IF” Paul had ever stared down the barrel of making a payroll, payroll tax, benefits and other costs with great regularity over a long time, none of this would be a mystery at all. His analysis would reflect similar things to what I have offered above and be entirely understood. A sober reading audience would say something along the lines of: "Oh, I get it, it's like a lot of other businesses making and selling stuff."

Simple answer: you sell out of product you offer at a discount when you've reached your sales goals for the product.

And if I may end this post with a question: as a percentage of people who have pre-paid for lower cost upgrades, what percentage have been exposed to the granular arguments around the sale and of that percentage, how many of them give a flip? Without being flippant, you can see that what I mean is that Microsoft hasn't been selling to guys like us, but has been selling to those in (not around) their markets.

July 17, 2009 12:22 PM
 

lketchum said:

@sjaak327,

So the EU is not made up of largely socialist democracies with long histories of social welfare spending, high unemployment and relatively lower growth?

Ok. I'll go forget everything I have seen, read and learned over the last 86 plus years. I'll forget how the "economic miracle" was diluted by the nonsensical and candidly, insane policies put in place 69-79 and the inexorable march toward mediocrity it set the continent upon. I'll go wipe my brain clean of its understanding of mathematics and intentionally forget watching Europe rise from its own ashes. I'll burn the pictures of my house being painted in pink primer - as we happily sent all we had to Europe to keep its nations from going under entirely and I promise, I'll erase my journals recording the teaching in English, French and German, of the evolution of the EG and EFTA into the modern EU.

While I'm at it, I'll dismiss the notion that it was the disco, VHS, fast cars and short skirts above the ankles of gorgeous girls and not tanks and missiles that brought down the iron curtain.

Not socialists my giddy aunt!

July 17, 2009 12:34 PM
 

doharrow said:

There's an easier and better alternative to this, which can also partially replace the need for a web browser and also be used to create desktop web applications a-la Chrome and Firefox Prism...

www.derekoharrow.com

July 17, 2009 12:39 PM
 

amorach said:

The reason there was a limit to the number of preorder downloads is because Microsoft didn't want too many people to get the drastically reduced price.

July 17, 2009 7:59 PM
 

How to download a web browser in Windows 7 E (which doesn’t come with its own browser) | Everything Microsoft said:

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July 25, 2009 11:54 AM
 

Rafael accidentally discovers Trident in Windows 7 E | Official Windows said:

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July 28, 2009 6:45 AM
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