Unless I am missing something, anyone installing the EU version of Win7 will have to have ready an off-disk (or separate partition) browser program - or they will not be able to connect to the net? I wonder if MSoft will point this up in their install instructions?

It's not too much trouble to download Firefox before you wipe your machine is it?

Even if you are a numpty, AFAIK either your OEM should have provided a browser or IE8 is bunged on a CD in the Win7 box.

Worst comes to worst you could use FTP.

Not every1 is such a smart a***. Surely some1 as clever as you would have realised that there are many out there who will not realise this until too late? Surely as a community it's our focus to help ALL levels of ability to have as little hassle as possible?. And for some1 so clever - you seem to have missed the point that EU Law has required MS to supply Win7 WITHOUT a browser!

Do try to be more constructive in your posts........

No, having no browser is Microsoft's response to the ruling of the EU Commission. The EU commission's preferred response was for MS to include a range of browsers so that the user may pick their preferred one. MS are cutting their nose off to spite their face.

Also, for complete newbies it's really not a problem - either IE8 will be in the box on a CD, or their OEM will have already provided them with a browser.

Do try to keep up old chap.

Now you're being pedantic. You know exactly what the point is. I do find it a pity that some forum users prefer to demonstrate their (self-believed) superiority by sneering/snide remarks rather than trying to help others
- Don't you?

End of discussion

Writes the person who originally wrote:

Right, well, I'll hop in with some advice.

Open the 'Documents' folder, and where the address bar would be in a browser, try clicking and typing in the URL you want. May work, may not. And really, is there really need to go off on one when someone stated the bleading obvious?

Probably correct


Also probably correct.

Have you seen the version of WIndows 7 that doesn't have a browser?

I haven't but I'd hope that there would be a connect to the Internet and get a browser type shortcut on the desktop.

Compuserve / Netscape / AOL CD in the box? I'm sure my first Win 3.11 came with one. It certainly didn't come with a browser. I've had PCs since that had "Get online" shortcuts on the desktop, probably put there by the OEM.

The EU brought this on themselves. It doesn't matter what they actually wanted, because if MS had bundled a bunch of browsers then someone else would probably have taken them to court for that. I've been saying since the original Netscape trials that the Law is a stupid ass that doesn't understand anything technical, except occasional when it's does understand but is deliberately corrupt. I'd totally support MS if they just said "FU" and refused to supply Windows outside the US, and the next update killed everything.