Internet Explorer testing with VirtualBox

I wouldn't call having to run 5 virtual machines on your computer "an easy way". Running multiple versions of IE on a single machine is much harder than running multiple versions of any other browser. Thanks, Microsoft.

At least they provide the images themselves this time..

I tried those virtual machines. I've been incredulous when have seen what Microsoft provided. Virtual machines with their systems and relative Internet Explorer version. "WOW" I said... before to install them...

Hours to import the virtual machines (because the shorter way has been useless for me), only to have 60/70GiB of virtual machines on my computer and 4 or 5 operating systems to activate (???).

What do they thought when do built those VMs? IMHO, it's totally stupid (thanks Microsoft to not change your mind across the decades) to provide a virtual machine with Windows XP to activate, only for testing in IE6. Do they really believe that I could buy licenses for 4 or 5 OS (most of them older and no more supported) only to test in a browser? Couldn't they to share VMs with a minimal or limited and preconfigured OS?

Always IMHO, Microsoft was able once again to do one step forward and five step backward.

@dpashkevich its true. But it's never easy to test older IE version is my experience. This is the best and most stable way i found so far, I have tried a lot of different ways with services like browserstack, install my own VM:s, using IE Tester. And as a professional web developer that's a job that someone has to do... Up n running in 5 min with a new VM with crap browsers that have all I needs for my testing. I will say that this solved my requirements at least, and it was free.

@ragnarokkr i would say, its better than nothing :)

It sounds crazy, it only took max 5 min for me after i have downloaded the VM:s and started with my testing.

@joakwest I know that it's better than nothing, but it sounds totally stupid to me, anyway :)

I know it. It sounds crazy to me, too. But it took me hours to import. And also other contacts of mine have had the same problem. I can't really understand the reason why.

@joakwest Don't get me wrong, I'm not calling you out :) This is the method that I use too and it probably is the best know way so far (except for Browserscope which is a service). My rant is at Microsoft and the methods they use. While it was very "generous" of them to provide those VM images for free, such approach is very far from being satisfactory (the images weigh around 20Gb each!!!! A little too much to just launch a browser, right?). They never seem to truly care about the experience of their users (including developers), that's something they keep getting wrong over and over again. Other commenters got my point here :)

@dpashkevich i got your point, but they try to make us happy anyway ;) I totaly agree about the size, but since i don't use it every day it easy to remove if space should be the problem...