5eraph's Internet Explorer 8 Addon
Version: 2009-10_2

Goal:

This addon slipstreams Internet Explorer 8 and its updates directly into an NT 5.2 x64 source.

Details:

• Intended for Windows XP x64 SP2, English. Also works with Windows Server 2003 x64 SP2, English.
• SP2 is required to use this addon. The following old SP1 files in the original installer have been omitted for compatibility with RVMi:
  browseui.dll, shdocvw.dll and shlwapi.dll
  wbrowseui.dll, wshdocvw.dll and wshlwapi.dll
• All files are from the SP2QFE branch, where applicable.
• Tested in VMware Server 1.0.9 throughout development.
• Tested with and without my update pack.
• Integrates with RyanVM Integrator 1.6 and nLite 1.4.9.1.

Credits:

Sereby, YumeYao, MrNxDmX, OnePiece, Kurt_Aust

Downloads:

• Due to MSFN rules regarding direct links to Microsoft executables, please visit the mirror topic at ryanvm.net for AddOn download links.
  
  Tweaks INI including all my preferred tweaks. Requires an IE8 addon above.
  Compress for use with nLite. (DETAILS)
• Link: entries_IE8Tweaks.ini
  Size: 5.67 KB
  MD5: e64a48d27b845af446670e82a421b4e1

Updates Included in v2009-10_2:

Note: Bulleted updates can be verified with QFECheck, if it exists on your system.

High Priority Updates:
• KB971961 - MS09-045 - JScript Scripting Engine v5.8
• KB974455 - MS09-054 - Internet Explorer - Cumulative

Optional Updates:
• KB975364 - Compatibility View list update (October 27, 2009)

Additional Updates:
• KB976749 - Microsoft HTML Viewer

Notes:

Having never created an IE7 addon—mostly due to laziness—this addon was particularly challenging to create. Being the last on the scene has its benefits, though. There's plenty of material to study from others who know what they're doing.

Everybody credited above played a huge part in the creation of this addon, even if only passively. Sereby for always being first, and for having the easiest addon to study for structure. YumeYao and MrNxDmX (NR) for their cleverness in using delayed file renaming to avoid errors in SetupErr.log. Honorable mention goes to OnePiece and nonno fabio for having the genius to create an uninstallable addon and an IEx addon creator, but, alas, they were much too difficult for me to study.

All tweaks previously included within the IE8 addon have been removed and placed in entries_IE8Tweaks.ini. Integrate the INI as is to include all my preferred tweaks—they're fully commented and tested—or edit as you see fit. Tweaks must be in INF format and will be applied to all users.

Changelog:

[2009/11/08 01:20 UTC] - 2009-10_2


Optional update KB975364 replaced optional update KB973874.
Additional update KB976749 added.

[2009/10/14 22:45 UTC] - 2009-10_1


High priority update KB974455 replaced high priority update KB972260.

[2009/10/05 03:45 UTC] - 2009-03_2 and 2009-09_1


Quick Launch issue corrected in both addons.
Updates specific to v2009-09_1:
• High priority update KB971961 added.
• High priority update KB972260 replaced high priority update KB969897.
• Optional update KB973874 replaced optional update KB971930.

[2009/06/25 09:35 UTC] - 2009-06_3


Optional update KB971930 replaced optional update KB971180.

[2009/06/14 13:30 UTC] - 2009-03_1 and 2009-06_2


v2009-03_1 released containing no updates or tweaks.
• For users of Kurt_Aust's guide who prefer to slipstream updates individually.
All tweaks removed from IE8 addons.
• entries_IE8Tweaks.ini now applies all tweaks I prefer and can be easily edited to suit.

[2009/06/10 11:25 UTC] - 2009-06_1


High priority update KB969897 added.
Added a disabled tweak to prevent the prompt to install Windows Search 4 when typing in the address bar.

[2009/05/27 14:05 UTC] - 2009-05_3


Optional update KB971180 replaced optional update KB969497.
Implemented an improved method to prevent errors in SetupErr.log.
• Should prevent nLite from causing the same errors when it updates files in this addon.
Added the following search providers to [Tweaks.AddReg] as disabled tweaks:
• Google (default), Microsoft Support Search, Wikipedia (en)

[2009/05/18 02:00 UTC] - 2009-05_2


"Web Slice Gallery" and "Suggested Sites" links in the Links Bar now work correctly. (Thanks again, Sereby. )
Corrections to special folders attributes code. (Thanks, OnePiece. )
Added [NeededComponents] section to entries*.ini for better nLite compatibility. (Thanks, johnhc and Sereby. )
Enhanced "Add or Remove Programs" code to show proper icon.
Added better disabled tweaks to [Tweaks.AddReg] and removed tweaks that don't work.

[2009/05/12 08:00 UTC] - 2009-05_1 - Initial release.

5eraph, thanks for your AddOn. It is a great step forward. I included it in my latest build and install (VMware Server) and have no errors in Setuperr or System Log. I have used IE8 very little, but fine so far. I do have a couple of questions. Trying to understand how these Real AddOns are constructed, I extracted Sereby's 3 IE8 AddOn. In his entries inf he has the following two lines to protect the IE core from removal via nLite:Are these not needed in yours? Sereby also included KB968220, I think. I could not find it in yours. Can we integrate this update via nLite after your AddOn? Thanks for your comments but especially thanks for your AddOn. Have fun, John.

You're welcome.

Both are good questions.

While I like to consider myself proficient in creating addons that work with both nLite and RVMi, I'm more accustomed to RVMi addons (I'm also a part-time developer of RVMi). The [NeededComponents] section is specific to nLite, and should prevent you from removing components that are necessary for the addon to function. In this case those components are:

185 = Internet Explorer Core
187 = Internet Explorer

I will be adding the [NeededComponents] section to the next release of this addon. Thanks for bringing it to my attention.

I have created this addon in such a way that nLite shouldn't have a problem updating most of the files included. I paid particular attention to the files normally included in the IE cumulative updates and KB968220. If nLite has difficulty later on with certain files then I will endeavor to make later versions of the addon more compatible with nLite's file update process. But you should know that the update I have included, KB969497, obsoletes KB968220; you don't need to add it, and nLite should tell you so if you try.

5eraph, thanks much for your reply. I did not realize that KB968220 was superseded. Thanks, John.

Updated to 2009-05_2. Please read the Changelog for full details.

Updated to 2009-05_3. Please read the Changelog for full details.

Updated to 2009-06_1. Please read the Changelog for full details.

Updated to 2009-06_2 and released 2009-03_1. Please read the Changelog for full details.

5eraph, I ran nLite and have similar results, even though I removed my really large tweak (IE settings). Attached are my .ini, Last Session and the last of the nLited 5erie8.inf. It makes no sense to me. Your tweaks that I commented out are present and mine are not. I must be doing something really stupid and obvious, but I don't see it. Thanks for your help. Enjoy, John.

EDIT: I should add, that again nLite indicated that the .ini was over 50 MB and that your original tweak is in the same folder as mine with the name 5er_Original_entries_IE8Tweaks.ini. Perhaps nLite is processing that.

EDIT2: I just installed a rebuilt ISO (on VM) with no IE tweaks (except my .reg files) and IE8 seems OK but I have some other problems of unknown origin at this time.

You aren't compressing the INI, johnhc. For nLite to process it correctly, the INI must be the only INI in the folder in which it is placed, or it must be compressed. It seems that my original INI is in the same folder as yours and nLite is integrating mine instead of yours. Try the following addon; it works for me.

5eraph, thanks for the reply. The reason I did not compress my .ini is what I reported earlier. When I tried that with my large .ini, the 5erie8.in_, was exactly the same as when I ran my uncompressed .ini. I will separate the files so that I have only my tweaks (7z) in the folder and try that. Right now I am chasing a completely separate and weird problem on my VM, so I will not get the tweaks tested tonight. Thanks again, John.

5eraph, I tried making another ISO with my tweaks file, compressed and placed in a folder alone. During integration of the tweak file I received the attached error. I also attach my Last Session. Thanks, John.

I'll also need to see your compressed tweaks file so I can reproduce the error.

5eraph, I have attached the file. The hash of the uncompressed file (7-Zip) is the same as the hash of the uncompressed file you attached in your last reply. I just looked in my 5ERIE8.IN_ and it is not modified by nLite - not surprising, I guess considering the error. I also noticed a rvmtmp folder in my source folder containing the tweaks file. Thanks, John.

Problem found.

The file name of the archive must not contain the word "entries". Try a file name of "IE8Tweaks.7z". It works for me.

To summarize: For nLite to process the Tweaks INI correctly...

1. ...it must be compressed/archived. If it is not archived you will experience the following symptoms:
   
   1. Any folders in the same directory as the INI file will be copied to AMD64.
   2. If any other INI files exist in the same directory then unpredictable results may occur. The intended INI may not be processed and you may receive errors from nLite.
   
   
2. ...the file name of the archive must not contain the word "entries". If it does then nLite will not decompress the archive, nLite will not find the Tweaks INI file, and you will receive the following error from nLite:
   
   
   QUOTE
   H-Object reference not set to an instance of an object. [...]

A details link to this post has been added to the first post regarding this issue. Thanks for your help in troubleshooting this, johnhc. Please let me know of any other problems.

5eraph, great! It looks like this process is fraught with problems. Thanks much for chasing them all down. I will build an ISO shortly and update this post as to the results. Thanks, John.

EDIT: I built an ISO with your altered tweaks ini and with my two large tweaks (IE8 settings, about 2500 lines total) added and installed it on my VM. All seems to work well. Thanks much for your help! Enjoy, John

Glad to hear it.

5eraph, you mention on page one that QFECheck was used to verify updates. I have DLed (Windows DL Center) both the x86 and x64 versions and had no luck. The x64 version (really IA64) says it is not compatible with my OS (makes sense) and the x86 version says it cannot find Hal.dll if I execute the DLed file, and "SP2 but no updates" if I execute QFECheck.exe inside. Do you have a source of one that works on XP x64? Thanks, John.

The latest known version of QFECheck.exe can be found at KB823393 in the MPSRPT_PFE.exe package. Within you will find an x64 version of QFECheck as well as x86 and IA64 versions—IA64 is short for Intel's Itanium architecture and is not the same as AMD's x86-64 or Intel's EM64T, generically known as x64.

You can also find it in my update pack.

5eraph, works great. Thanks, John.

Updated to 2009-06_3. Please read the Changelog for full details.

Hi!
I want to integrate your addon in my version of windows XP x64 (i've simply added the update),but i've a problem.
I add the IE8addon+update with nlite and i install the ISO in my VM.
When i use windows update he wants to download the compaibility list and the update pack of ie8.
How i can solve this problem? i'm sure i integrate the ie8addon+updates.

thank you!

5eraph, do you, by any chance, also have your tweaks translated into .REG format? Sure I can do the conversion myself, but I reckon you would have done it the other way around already, so..

Note to nLite users: KB971961 must be slipstreamed after either of these IE8 addons.

v2009-06_3 does not include the latest updates, ascatem. I am currently unable to properly update or test this addon. Please use v2009-03_1 with the updates recommended by Kurt_Aust in nLite.

I am sorry, meowing. I do not have a REG file that contains those tweaks.

Updated to 2009-09_1. Please read the Changelog for full details.

If Microsoft keeps with their schedule of IE updates every other month then we can expect v2009-09_1 to be very short-lived...

Updated to 2009-10_1. Please read the Changelog for full details.

I am curious what tool did you use to create this addon?

No single tool besides my own brain.

I checked the files in the IE8 installer against the files on my XPx64 source disc to split them into two groups: those that would replace preexisting files, and those that would need to be added as new files. With over 250 files, this was the most tedious and time-consuming part.

All of the new source files then needed to be segregated into DLLs and non-DLLs. Most non-DLLs ended up in IE8.CAB within the addon for installation through 5erIE8.inf. I used jdoe's CAB Tool to create IE8.CAB for use in the addon. The rest of the new source files needed entries added to entries_IE8x64.ini which was written from scratch.

I then checked update.inf within the installer to see where all the files that needed to be added would be installed. My INF (5erIE8.inf) is a heavily modified version of the original update.inf. I removed all unused sections, then removed entries in the INF for most preexisting files and new source DLLs since entries_IE8x64.ini would handle the chore of installing the new DLLs. And I added some sections used by others such as Sereby, YumeYao and MrNxDmX custom-tailored to XPx64.

Some editing of the original ie.inf source file was necessary for Windows to recognize the new IE version. The edited file was added to the addon.

7-Zip was used to package all of the files into a single addon.

Finally, much testing with VMware Server 1.0.9 to make sure everything works as it should.

This isn't a complete history of the steps I took, or the troubleshooting that was performed. But it does basically describe the process I used.

Check that out!

Universal UpdatePack/Addon Creator INTL

I'm aware of it. As far as I know, it does not support x64.

5eraph, I only have three letters for you: W O W !!!

Can KB898461 be included in IE8 addon pack? It exists only for 32 bit.

Thanks, Sp0iLedBrAt.

I'd consider adding it if Microsoft had an XPx64 installation package available for it, atolica, but I can't find one on support.microsoft.com, download.microsoft.com, or any reference to such a package within WindowsUpdate.log in %SystemRoot%.

If I could find a package for it, though, it would end up in the update pack. KB898461 is an operating system update, not an update for Internet Explorer.

Updated to 2009-10_2. Please read the Changelog for full details.