How to test MSN Explorer?

Question

A client is seeing bugs on their website using MSN Explorer. I can't reproduce those bugs with IE7 or any other browser, and I can't use MSN Explorer, because it requires a subscription to MSN.

• What is MSN Explorer based on? I assumed it was exactly the same as IE7 with a different interface, from wikipedia and the user-agent string.
• Is there any way to test it? I can't find any browser screenshot sites that have MSN.
• Is there any possibility it's just different enough from IE7 to have its own bugs, or should I look elsewhere?

Answer 1

What is MSN Explorer based on?

From the install page here, there is this note at the bottom:

Note: this version of MSN contains Internet Explorer 5.5

Hopefully that helps. I can't use MSN explorer either, so there is no guarantee that this information is correct.

Edit: The IE 5.5 information is corroborated by the warning I got when trying to access this site from Linux: http://explorer.msn.com/langwarn.htm?prompt=1

Is there any way to test it?

Based on the info above, if you can find a screenshot site that supports IE 5.5, I would imagine the rendering should match MSN explorer.

Is there any possibility it's just different enough from IE7 to have its own bugs, or should I look elsewhere?

Oh, it's incredibly possible. If you can't get a version of IE 5.5, at the very least, I would suggest grabbing a copy of IE 6. Microsoft supports Virtual PC images that come installed with IE 6 that you could use to test.

Answer 2

It sounds like you were looking for browser screenshots pages before, so you may have come across this, but IE NetRenderer provides a web-based interface to preview your page in IE 5.5 through IE 8. Since it sounds like MSN is based on 5.5 maybe that will be useful. Most of my web development takes place on a Mac, so it's been a convenient tool.

Answer 3

You might want to look into installing the Multiple IE installation package from TredoSoft. The installation contains IE3 IE4.01 IE5 IE5.5 and IE6.

Hope this helps you.

Answer 4

IETester allows you to view your sites in IE 5.5 - 8.