Frequently Asked Questions

Why do you call it a platform preview?
As you can see, the Internet Explorer Platform Preview is not a full web browser. It's intended to give Web developers an early look at the Web platform technology coming in the next release of Internet Explorer. To distinguish it from a full browser, we call it a platform preview.
Why doesn't Platform Preview have a back button or address bar?
Our focus with Internet Explorer Platform Preview is to provide a vehicle with which Web developers can see our progress and start planning if and how they want to support new HTML5 capabilities in the future. It is not intended for daily browsing. For a more detailed discussion of the architecture of Platform Preview see Why No Back Button?
Why not just release a full browser?
The Platform Preview is not intended to replace your full browser. Microsoft is releasing the Platform Preview to give developers the opportunity to test and provide feedback on the underlying platform of Internet Explorer. You can find more about what is implemented in the release notes.
Why are some of the demos not usable with the keyboard or assistive technologies?
The Test Drive site demonstrates the use of new Web technologies, and we're excited to be sharing these new capabilities with you through this site. Our demos are works-in-progress, and as we develop a better understanding of these technologies we'll be improving the quality of the demos on this site. For example, keyboard access to individual SVG elements is limited and some demos may not be functional for all users. Microsoft is committed to supporting accessibility in these technologies. We're working with Web standards organizations, the assistive technology industry, and end-users to deliver accessible experiences when these new technologies are used.
Do these demos represent best practices for Web development?
Like the Platform Preview, these demos are an early look at what's developers can do with Internet Explorer, and the demos are works-in-progress. Our goal for these demos is to convey concepts, and the demos are not intended to be used as best practices for Web development. We focused our efforts on creating great code in the browser, not in the demos. So treat these demos as illustrative only as to the capabilities of this early release, and expect that we will be adding more regularly.
Does Platform Preview replace my current Internet Explorer?
No, it does not, though it does share some settings with your existing Internet Explorer installation. One of the best features of Platform Preview is that it installs side-by-side with earlier versions of Internet Explorer and any other browser(s) on your computer.
What are the system requirements for Platform Preview?
You need a Windows PC running Windows 7. Platform Preview is only available in a 32-bit x86 version but it will install and run on 64-bit Windows 7 as well.
Why do some links open in my browser?
When a hyperlink targets a new window, Platform Preview opens it in your default browser. Since Platform Preview cannot be registered as your system's default browser, the link does not open in it.
When you say the Platform Preview provides support for HTML5, what do you mean?
The Platform Preview demonstrates how Internet Explorer supports modern web standards from the W3C including the W3C HTML5 specification, CSS3 modules and WebApps APIs. Microsoft is an active member of the W3C and has participated for many years in the standards process. We believe that interoperability is best achieved through a collaborative standards process, in partnership with the wider community, and governed by a transparent and clearly defined set of rules — qualities long embodied by the W3C. As part of this work, Microsoft is contributing test cases to the W3C for several proposed web standards. You can read more about this on the IE Testing Center.