Howto: Run Internet Explorer 7 within Ubuntu 10.04 (Lucid Lynx)

As a webdeveloper, I am obviously required to test the websites I create in the most common A-grade browsers to ensure that they are usable and functional for the majority of the visitors. After switching from Windows to Ubuntu, I soon recognized the need for an Internet Explorer clone to test website for malfunctions. Having a dualboot (Windows and Ubuntu installed on one system) did work for some time, but last week I started looking for a better and faster solution. First I ran into a IEs4Linux, a software package enabling the use of Internet Explorer 5, 5.5 and 6 on Linux (with partial support for Internet Explorer 7 in a two year old beta). While this package might be handy for webdevelopers still supporting antique browsers, I searched further and ran into a Spanish tutorial that enabled me to install Internet Explorer 7 within Ubuntu. Unable to find a good English tutorial, I decided to write my own tutorial using the knowledge from the Spanish version and my installation experiences. By following the steps below, you should be able to run Internet Explorer 7 within Ubuntu without much trouble.

1. Open the Ubuntu Software Center by going to Applications » Ubuntu Software Center. In the new screen, search for ‘PlayOnLinux’ using the searchbox in the upper right corner.



3. Install’PlayOnLinux by clicking on ‘Install’ in the list. Depending on your security settings, your root password might be requested in order to continue. After the PlayOnLinux installation has been completed, you can exit the Ubuntu Software Center (File » Close).

4. Open PlayOnLinux through the menu by going to Applications » Games » PlayOnLinux. In the new screen you should pick the option ‘Install’ to start adding new programs to PlayOnLinux.

5. Select ‘Internet Explorer 7′ in the category ‘Internet’. Note that you can also install ‘Internet Explorer 6′ if you prefer to do so. Click ‘Apply’ to continue the installation.



6. A new screen will pop up which will show some general information about the software you are about to install. Click ‘Forward’ to continue.



7. In the next screen, you will get a notice that the software will prepare the required packages. Click ‘Forward’ to continue and wait for the screen from step 8 to appear.



8. Once preparations have been made, the program informs you that it will download Internet Explorer 7 for you. Again click ‘Forward’.



9. In the new screen you can select the language you want to use within Internet Explorer 7. Select the language you want to use (e.g. English) and click ‘Forward’ to start the download and installation.



10. The program will now download Internet Explorer 7 and start the installation. This new installation wizard will guide you through the setup of Internet Explorer 7. Follow the wizard until the installation is complete; then continue with step 11.



11. When completed, the installation wizard will ask you to reboot your system. You must select ‘Restart now (Recommended)’ here in order to continue, but your system will not reboot (the reboot is only required in Windows).



12. The wizard will be replaced with a new screen in which you can choose the location of Internet Explorer. For this tutorial, I have selected a desktop icon which allows me to open Internet Explorer 7 from an icon on the desktop.



13. Depending on your choice, a menu item or desktop item will be created and you can click ‘Forward’ to complete the installation.



14. Internet Explorer 7 is now installed and you can close the main window of PlayOnLinux (File > Exit).

Installation completed

You can now open Internet Explorer 7 using the new menu item or desktop item and start browsing. Note that the menu item has been created in the submenu Applications > Other. You can of course always change this using the ‘Main Menu Manager’ (System > Preferences > Main Menu).



Update 29/10/2010:
Please note that all steps above can be accomplished successfully on Ubuntu 2010 (Maverick Meerkat) as well. However, running the browser seems to be problematic since you can only view the Wine website. If someone has found a fix for that I will be happy to post it. – I just noticed that everything has been fixed for the newest version of Ubuntu!