Which Windows version for IE7

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Which Windows version for IE7

XP Home?

zCat

10:37 am on Jan 3, 2007 (gmt 0)

Looking at my logs, it appears IE7 is steadily making an appearance. However, the most recent Windows version I have access to is 2000, which I use mainly for testing my sites in IE6. Unfortunately it seems IE7 is not being released for 2000, so it looks like I might have to acquire a more recent Windows version.

Am I right in thinking XP Home SP2 would be the best value for money? I would only really be running it for IE7 and possibly one or two other common Windows-only applications; presumably there would be no advantage for me in the more expensive professional version.

Receptional Andy

4:41 pm on Jan 4, 2007 (gmt 0)

You could potentially use Virtual PC for this and avoid a new OS altogether. They've released an image with XP Pro and IE6, (see [webmasterworld.com...]

zCat

8:48 pm on Jan 4, 2007 (gmt 0)

Thanks, but that looks like it will only work on "Windows Server 2003; Windows Vista; Windows XP", none of which I have.

I'm willing to lay down cold hard cash for a copy of XP, just want to be sure I'll be alright with the cheaper "Home" version.

Receptional Andy

9:22 am on Jan 5, 2007 (gmt 0)

Virtual PC definitely runs on win2k, but in any case, XP Home just has some features disabled. These are mostly related to networking, so if you don't use a AD Domain or similar then you can get away with the Home version.

There are a few other things removed such as Remote Desktop/IIS and IIRC you can't use multiple processors with the Home version.

zCat

10:14 am on Jan 5, 2007 (gmt 0)

Virtual PC definitely runs on win2k

ah yes, the MS Virtual PC page says that. Mind you my Windows 2000 runs in VMWare on Linux, so I'm not sure whether two layers of virtualisation would work too snappily ;-).

but in any case, XP Home just has some features disabled. These are mostly related to networking, so if you don't use a AD Domain or similar then you can get away with the Home version.
There are a few other things removed such as Remote Desktop/IIS and IIRC you can't use multiple processors with the Home version.

Great, as I said I'll only be using it for a little light web-browsing and testing, so as long as it manages standard TCP/IP etc. it should be fine.

Thanks for the info.

[edited by: zCat at 10:22 am (utc) on Jan. 5, 2007]