[WinPartners] Getting Ready for Internet Explorer 9 - RECOMMENDATION TO WAIT

[Alexander Kozlov]

Good Afternoon,

Microsoft has announced the release of Internet Explorer 9 (IE9). As of March 15, 2011, IE9 will be available for download from Microsoft. At some still-not-specified date, Microsoft will deliver IE9 as an update via the Windows Update service for machines running 32-bit and 64-bit Windows 7 and Vista.

IS&T Recommendation:

-          IS&T strongly recommends that Windows users WAIT to install IE9 until it becomes available as an approved update via the MIT Windows Automatic Update Service (WAUS) at http://ist.mit.edu/services/os/windows/updates. If you are not using WAUS, IS&T strongly recommends subscribing to it to prevent your machine from getting IE9 before support becomes available.

-         IS&T strongly recommends that staff in departments, laboratories and centers (DLCs) who maintain web applications test their web sites, extensions, and applications to make sure they are compatible with IE9. IS&T will work with you to find appropriate solutions if you run into  problems. Please contact the Internet Explorer Release Team at ie-release at mit.edu<mailto:ie-release at mit.edu> for assistance and to share your findings.

If you determine that your environment is not ready for IE9 deployment, you can use the Internet Explorer 9 Blocker Toolkit at http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/en/details.aspx?FamilyID=a6169467-b793-4d17-837d-01776bf2bea4. This Toolkit will prevent installation of IE9 via Automatic Updates later this month. If a problem develops after IE9 is installed, you have an option to uninstall IE9 and roll back to IE8.

We would appreciate hearing about your experiences with IE9 and whether you encountered any issues with web sites, particularly those you use for MIT business and learning. Please send any test results and/or feedback to ie-release at mit.edu<mailto:ie-release at mit.edu>.


_____________

Alexander Kozlov
Windows Platform Coordinator
Software Release Team
Information Services and Technology
W92 - 140B
(617) 253-5103