Testing Xataface on IE6 when you have Vista

So I ran into a pretty annoying problem the other day. I had to test a Xataface application on IE6 with Vista as my OS. Which basically meant I had IE7 preinstalled, and I couldn't install IE6. Ughh...annoying. I don't understand why people still use IE6, but whatever.

The best way to actually shove this is to install a virtual machine with the OS set to XP and then you can use IE6 on it. To do this follow this tutorial.

One thing you need to note is that Virtual PC 2004 does NOT work on Vista. So you actually have to use Virtual PC (VPC) 2007 . This can be found here. The "Internet Explorer 6 Testing VPC Image" is still the same.

Another annoying thing is that VPC 2007 is NOT fully supported with Vista Home edition (UGHHH...why are things to complicated!). And you'll be faced with all these messages not non-compatibility. But you are just limited from some features which I didn't bother looking directly into. But if you just want to test Xataface sites on it, then just ignore the messages and install it.

After you have loaded the VPC image, then the next step is to actually setup internet connection from inside the VPC. If you are using a LAN connection, then do this:

1. Edit


2. Settings


3. Networking


4. Adaptor 1: NAT

Try to connect now, and if you have a firewall on then you will be prompted to allow the VPC to pass it. After you "unblock" it, then everything should work!

If you are using wireless, then use this tutorial.