Internet Explorer 8

[RJ_Paton]

Have you tried IE8 on an XP machine to see if there was any difference in the program behaviour.

I have just run an Autorun CD on Vista with IE8 set as default - it ran and opened in the browser with no problems.

[RJ_Paton]

Further to above I did a little checking and tried to replicate the problem

The only way I could do this was either by turning off Active content within IE8 or in Vista if you go to "Default programs" and then "Change Autoplay settings" there is a setting  "Software and games" this has to be set to Install or run program otherwise the autorun feature will not kick in regardless of the IE8 settings.

In theory this should also apply to IE7 but it is possible that some interaction in the coding between IE8 and Vista changes the flag settings internally.

[GrahamH]

Have you tried IE8 on an XP machine to see if there was any difference in the program behaviour.

I have just run an Autorun CD on Vista with IE8 set as default - it ran and opened in the browser with no problems.

Thanks for your help.

I haven't tried IE8 on an XP machine - on the grounds that if it ain't broke don't fix it  Having seen the comments of some people who have, as a result of Google searches, then I have no intention of doing so 

The original install of IE8 on the Vista machine came about as a result of Windows Update including it (which hasn't happened with XP on this machine).

Further to above I did a little checking and tried to replicate the problem

The only way I could do this was either by turning off Active content within IE8 or in Vista if you go to "Default programs" and then "Change Autoplay settings" there is a setting  "Software and games" this has to be set to Install or run program otherwise the autorun feature will not kick in regardless of the IE8 settings.

In theory this should also apply to IE7 but it is possible that some interaction in the coding between IE8 and Vista changes the flag settings internally.

I thought about the Autoplay settings and did make sure that the one for "Software and games" was set to "Install or run program".

It has to be something to do with the settings but, given that there are a finite number of setting combinations, that is something which Microsoft should have tested.

I agree with you that the settings should apply to IE7 as well and that is another area where Microsoft could give assistance. They must know what the differences between IE8 and IE7 are, even if they haven't bothered to run full tests, so should be able to point to areas to investigate.

Graham

[Nick29]

It's possible that it could be deliberate.  Read this

OK, this applies to Windows 7, but they could have retrospectively applied it to Vista.  Microsoft say that the change shouldn't affect CD and DVD drives, but maybe they've got it wrong ?

[GrahamH]

It's possible that it could be deliberate.  Read this

OK, this applies to Windows 7, but they could have retrospectively applied it to Vista.  Microsoft say that the change shouldn't affect CD and DVD drives, but maybe they've got it wrong ?

Thanks.

I had a look at that before contacting Microsoft. However, as I mentioned when Koromo suggested it the other day, that appears to be slightly different - as you say it shouldn't affect CD/DVD drives.

Since posting earlier this morning I've tried IE8 again, making sure - even though I'm certain I did yesterday  - that the "active content" and "Install or run program" flags were set appropriately. Result, no different - so went back to IE7  .

I rekon I've now wasted enough time on this. So, unless Microsoft come back to me with any sensible response (as opposed to suggesting I ring their costly support line) I'll leave it as it is.

Graham

[MKG]

Further to Nick's insistence on the "silent" Trojans - he's right. For the past couple of days, as a result of an unrelated but unexpected event on my computer, I've been engaged in a cleaning exercise. I have pretty solid AV and, I thought, pretty solid anti-Trojan software on my machine. But, becoming suspicious, I loaded a new Trojan remover. Lo and behold, it pulled out 46 infection sites. I was, to say the least, a tad surprised.

So, Nick's warning is perfectly correct - these things can sit on your machine completely without a clue being given to you. I spent yesterday changing passwords!

Mike

[GrahamH]

Never a bad idea to run extra checks for malware so, after seeing Mike's post, I've given the Vista laptop a thorough going over.

Doesn't help my problem at all but at least I know it's like a Penny Lane fire engine - it's a clean machine 

Did this desktop and the netbook at the same time and they're OK as well.

Graham

[Redroger]

Can you say what the Trojan remover was Mike, is it free? By pm is necessary.

[MKG]

Yep - it's Loaris Trojan Remover, which I fortunately picked up cheaply this weekend,

http://loaris.com/

There's a free trial which will identify infections but won't remove them. Still - it's better to know, I think.

Mike