how to install ie7 on windows 2003 server

[JiveMasterT]

I use 2003 server as my test box for my webpage so i wanted to have ie7 installed on it. unfortunately there is no 2003 server release that im aware of. here's how you make it install.

1. get a copy of the internet explorer 7 install .exe file.

2. extract the contents to a folder.

3. go to the folder called update and make a copy of the file called update.inf and put it in on your desktop.

4. edit the top part of the update.inf file to say:

[Version]
 ? ?CatalogFile ? ? ? ? ? ? ? = %SP_SHORT_TITLE%.cat
 ? ?LanguageType ? ? ? ? ? ? ?= %LangTypeValue%
 ? ?MaxNtBuildToUpdate ? ? ? ?= 9999
 ? ?MaxNtMajorVersionToUpdate = 5
 ? ?[B]MaxNtMinorVersionToUpdate = 2[/B]
 ? ?[B]MaxNtServicePackVersion ? = 999[/B]
 ? ?[B]MinNtServicePackVersion ? = 000[/B]
 ? ?[B]NtBuildToUpdate ? ? ? ? ? = 3790[/B]
 ? ?NtMajorVersionToUpdate ? ?= 5
 ? ?[B]NtMinorVersionToUpdate ? ?= 2[/B]
 ? ?RebootRequired ? ? ? ? ? ?= 1
 ? ?Signature ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? = "$Windows NT$"

[Configuration]
 ? ?AppFileInUseDetect ? ? ? ?= 7 
 ? ?CustomizationDLL ? ? ? ? ?= iecustom.dll
 ? ?EventLogDllName ? ? ? ? ? = spmsg.dll
 ? ?EventLogKeyName ? ? ? ? ? = %SourceDiskName%
 ? ?ForceServicesRestart ? ? ?= 0
 ? ?InstallationType ? ? ? ? ?= Hotfix
 ? ?InstallLogFileName ? ? ? ?= %SP_SHORT_TITLE%.log
 ? ?NoPNPFiles ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?= 1
 ? ?RecordFileDetails ? ? ? ? = 0
 ? ?ServiceFileInUseDetect ? ?= 1
 ? ?UninstallCustomizationDLL = iecustom.dll
 ? ?UnInstallDirName ? ? ? ? ?= $NtUninstall%SP_SHORT_TITLE%$
 ? ?UninstallForceDefault ? ? = 1
 ? ?UnInstallLogFileName ? ? ?= %SP_SHORT_TITLE%Uninst.log
 ? ?WaitTimeForServiceStop ? ?= -1

[Prerequisite]
 ? ?condition=SingleOp,NoSort.Test.IE7Beta1Installed.Section
 ? ?condition=OrOp,NoSort.Test.IE7Installed.Section
 ? ?condition=SingleOp,NoSort.Test.IE7GreaterInstalled.Section

[NoSort.Test.IE7Beta1Installed.Section]
 ? ?NotPresentOp=CheckReg,HKLM,"Software\Microsoft\Updates\[B]Windows Server 2003[/B]\SP%SERVICE_PACK_NUMBER%\%SP_SHORT_TITLE_BETA1%",,0x10001
 ? ?Display_String="%MSG_IE7Beta1Installed%"

5. save the file and keep a backup copy of it.

***now this is the tricky part. if you don't time it right then the install will exit on you saying that it cannot verify the integrity of the update.inf file***

6. double click the update.exe file and as soon as you can see the E logo, drag the original copy of the file from the desktop to the folder with the modified update.inf file, over writing it.

if you get any errors, verify that you did everything right and try it again. post here if you have any questions and I will do my best to help.

edit...

not sure if anyone else has this problem, but it seems like my gpedit.msc got broken after this install, but im too lazy to go back to see if it was already broken.

update...

apparently sp1 broke my gpedit, but now all is well.

tip...

if you are getting the update.inf cannot be found error, then try pressing the next button after you see the IE logo and then do the file replace and see if that works for you.

Edited July 29, 2005 by jivemastert

[Chosen One]

after I did that when I run the update.exe it says it cant find update.inf

[JiveMasterT]

  chris_william27 said:

after I did that when I run the update.exe it says it cant find update.inf

586290440[/snapback]

the update.inf is in the same directory as the update.exe, right?

[aristofeles]

Update: i had the same problem as jivemastert - our mistake, we just copied all your code.

To make it clear:

4. edit the top part of the update.inf file to say:

MaxNtMinorVersionToUpdate = 2

MaxNtServicePackVersion = 999

MinNtServicePackVersion = 000

NtBuildToUpdate = 3790

NotPresentOp=CheckReg,HKLM,"Software\Microsoft\Updates\Windows Server 2003\SP%SERVICE_PACK_NUMBER%\%SP_SHORT_TITLE_BETA1%",,0x10001

_________________

I'm on IE7 right now. Thanks :)

Edited July 30, 2005 by aristofeles

[JiveMasterT]

  aristofeles said:

Update: i had the same problem as jivemastert - our mistake, we just copied all your code.

To make it clear:

4. edit the top part of the update.inf file to say:

? MaxNtMinorVersionToUpdate = 2>

? MaxNtServicePackVersion?  = 999/b>

?&nbMinNtServicePackVersion?  = 000

?&NtBuildToUpdate? ? ? ? ?  = 3790 = 3790

NotPresentOp=CheckReg,HKLM,"Software\Microsoft\UpWindows Server 2003er 2003\SP%SERVICE_PACK_NUMBER%\%SP_SHORT_TITLE_BETA1%",,0x10001

_________________

I'm on IE7 right n:). Thanks :)

586297691[/snapback]

sorry, i should have made it more clear. that is only the top section with the prerequisits... you still need all the rest of it lol.

you were able to swap over the file and get it to install right?

[aristofeles]

Yep, i just tried to swap the file before run the .exe and, after running it, pressed yes on the already waiting overwrite dialog ;)

And it's great!

I already cursed MS for their stupid RSS implementation (it's like opening a web page!! WHY??????) and i'm back on Opera again!!!

[CharlyAR]

No way I can do it, as soon as I double click update.exe it says The version of windows bla, bla. Doesn't give me enough time to copy the file (doesn't give me enough time to do anything...) I even tried with a .bat... nothing :(