Internet Explorer

[Edu-IT]

We've got a mixture of 32 bit and 64 bit here. On the 64 bit machines the default browser is IE 64 bit edition. This causes some problems in that certain plugins are 32 bit only and as such don't function in the 64 bit browser. How can I force IE to be 32 bit? Or is it just a case of having multiple shortcuts and making sure users pick the right one?

[X-13]

Do you use redirected start menus?

 

/Program Files(x86)/ has the 32-bit version. Just set that one as the shortcut.

[Arthur]

Which plug-ins are you using?

[Edu-IT]

Java is the one that is causing me headache at the moment, as I only rolled out 32 bit version. If I make the (x86) folder the only shortcut, that will stop working on non 64 bit machines?

[6Foot2]

Do you use redirected start menus?

 

/Program Files(x86)/ has the 32-bit version. Just set that one as the shortcut.

 

This answer seconded. We use redirected Start Menus/Desktops and give users the 32 Bit version.

[Edu-IT]

But on non 64 bit machines, how does that shortcut then work, as the (x86) program folder won't exist? Or am I being stupid?

[sted]

But on non 64 bit machines, how does that shortcut then work, as the (x86) program folder won't exist? Or am I being stupid?

 

you use wmi filters and deploy a different start menu depending on the architecture

[jmak]

But on non 64 bit machines, how does that shortcut then work, as the (x86) program folder won't exist? Or am I being stupid?

 

It does on my machine.

 

You're being logical but MS has been differently logical...

[X-13]

MS has been differently logical...

 

The folder with 32-bit IE is stored in a folder that's exclusive to 64-bit machines... making Network Managers have to do more work, when a simple [YMMV] "everyone uses this one" setup would have worked.

 

"Program Files" should be for 32 bit.

"Program Files(x64)" should be used instead of (x86).

 

64-bit programs get a special 64-bit folder, 32-bit is the standard one.

[Edu-IT]

So I've tested that theory and Microsoft is clever in that it seems to go for whatever is most relevant. So if I create a shortcut on a 32 bit machine, the path will be for 32 bit, but then if I view the same shortcut on the 64 bit machine, it's updated to the 64 bit path. So therefore I wonder how I do create a shortcut if MS is going to keep being clever and correcting the path? Hope this makes sense.

[6Foot2]

So I've tested that theory and Microsoft is clever in that it seems to go for whatever is most relevant. So if I create a shortcut on a 32 bit machine, the path will be for 32 bit, but then if I view the same shortcut on the 64 bit machine, it's updated to the 64 bit path. So therefore I wonder how I do create a shortcut if MS is going to keep being clever and correcting the path? Hope this makes sense.

 

Sounds like you are asking a similar question to the one I did a little while ago.

 

You might find some of the replies in this thread helpful:

 

Link: http://www.edugeek.net/forums/how-do-you-do/84327-32-bit-64-bit-neutral-shortcuts.html