Resolved Cannot log in to website in IE8 on one machine but can on another

thanks - I shall let you know what happens

 

kimsland - I did the reinstall, updated everything and installed IE8 only to find that I couldn't log in....

I then uninstalled IE8 and installed IE7 - and it worked. I have not dared try to install IE8 again.

The confusing issues are

• before reformatting and installing Windows I did try the uninstall 8 and install 7 and it didn't fix the problem
• the other machine (a very similar ThinkPad) still works with IE8

So, I am at a loss as to why but at the moment I am just thankful that I can log in now and catch up on my courses.

Thanks for your assistance, it is warmly appreciated

 

I can't see how IE 8 on a clean install, can cause you not to log in
Instead of installing IE8 you should confirm that all Automatic Windows Updates were completed. Including updating to XP Service Pack 3

Then, update to IE8, which includes Compatibility View in case some websites don't display well.

That's what I'd do

 

so am I

I did just that - first was the SP 3 update on its' own then the next round included IE8 (bypassing IE7). At that point I tried to log in an it wouldn't work. I then uninstalled IE8 then downloaded and installed IE7. I could log in with IE7, no problem. I didn't want to rock the boat so I didn't upgrade to IE8 however... the story gets even more bizarre.

I was now in a formatting mood so I took the other laptop and formatted/reinstalled XPP. I did the updates but prevented IE8 from being installed in the updates. I then went and installed IE7 (IE6 was part of the default SP2 install) and could log in. Being brave I then went and updated to IE8 and, to my surprise was able to log in as well.

Here is the kicker though. When I went to the website and tested my machine with their browser test utility it said all was OK as I was running IE7 in spite of me updating to IE8. When I originally installed IE 8 (on the other machine without installing IE7 first) the browser test told me that my browser didn't pass as I was using IE8. Uninstalling it and installing IE7 wouldn't work in that instance.

I am sending a message to the techies at school to see if they can make heads or tails out of it. Any further thoughts are welcomed, thanks

 

You can see what the Net thinks you are using by clicking here: http://www.thismachine.info/

Some sites may incorrectly report your details. I don't know howmany times I've seen sites say I have SP2 when I have SP3 installed. Even MS themselves on one or some of the pages incorrectly reported my Service Pack.

When I noticed that MS stated this to me (even though Windows Updates stated I didn't need SP3 as I had it already) I contacted them and started going through the pages that incorrectly reported my details.
I think they (or we really) got most of them fixed.

Just like Internet Explorer on some sites. Their sophisticated engine's just get confused and seem to take some wild guess
Actually I seem to remember a glitch in the program HijackThis that also did not know certain operating systems or browser versions presently installed.

So, it comes down to: You Know