IE 8 OT?

Avast Free Antivirus / Premium Security
1

Forgive me if this is too far OT, but I visit here daily and find the best advice comes from our resident gurus. :slight_smile: Perhaps just some redirection is called for.
I am runing Windows XP and (I think) IE 6.
First problem is I am on a very slow dial-up modem (c. 30 kbps) and have neglected to update Microsoft service packs; I figured a year or so ago it would take hundreds of hours on line to catch up.
Second problem is starting to get webpages, just a few, with the notice “not supported, upgrade to IE8 etc.”
Is this worth the effort or should I hang on until I need a new computer?
I have a feeling MS is going to want updated SP’s to get IE8.
Any ideas would be appreciated or someplace else to ask.
Thanks

2
To determine which service pack is currently installed on your computer, follow these steps:
  1. Click Start, and then click Run.
  2. Copy and paste, or type the following command and then click OK:
    winver
    A dialog box displays the version of Windows and the service pack that is currently installed on your computer.

You can get the service packs on CD’s- you’ll have to pay a delivery charge, I think.

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/322389

IE6 on a computer which hasn’t been updated for a long time is a BIG security risk. Download Opera or Firefox- they are light years ahead in performance as well.

3

+1 for:

  1. Service packs on CD.
  2. Download IE8 or, at least, use other browser.
4

+1 for Service packs on CD and you can share them with relatives and friends.

IE is integral to Windows so it pays to keep Windows updated.

5

I bought SP 3 on the CD. It was about $4 + $6 s&h.
Took about 30 minutes to install and things are slowly returning to normal.
The “Updates are Waiting” button still shows many millions of bytes of “necessary” items.
Are those likely just not to have noticed the SP 3 install?

6

No, there have been over a years’ worth of updates since SP3 was released. One of those updates will be IE8. The rest will be the various patches released every month, and at least one additional (out of schedule) update.
They’re important.
Set some time aside to do it, maybe select a few updates at a time, get it sorted.
Should only take a week. :wink:

7

Hi Jima,

“If Mohammad can’t go to the mountain, let the mountain come to Mohammad.” as Francis Bacon remarked.
So go to someone or someplace with a fast Internet connection and download the file(s) onto a pendrive/USB stick to take home and install,

polonus

8

polonus?

I bought SP 3 on the CD. It was about $4 + $6 s&h. Took about 30 minutes to install and things are slowly returning to normal. The "Updates are Waiting" button still shows many millions of bytes of "necessary" items. Are those likely just not to have noticed the SP 3 install?

I guess he can try your suggestion next time though.

9

Well, I went for IE8. 16 mb and about an hour and ten minutes.
Then upon “install” another 15 mb of IE8 updates!! And there is a chance something timed out and I will have to do 'em again.
So far all I have found is that my favorites don’t stay open.
Not sure it was a good idea, but I suppose I’ll get used to it.
Do I have to uninstall IE6?
Sorry to take your time.

10

It was already uninstalled by Windows itself when you’ve installed version 8.