Running IE 7/8/9/10/11/Edge Virtual machines from Microsoft under Linux via VirtualBox
Detailed step-by-step notes for installing the Microsoft provided Internet Explorer virtual machines under Linux using VirtualBox.
Has been tested under Ubuntu 16.04LTS (previously 14.04LTS) with VirtualBox version 5.1.
- General notes
- Available images
- IE6 - Windows XP
- IE7 - Vista Enterprise
- IE8 - Windows XP
- IE8 - Windows 7
- IE9 - Windows 7
- IE10 - Windows 7
- IE10 - Windows 8
- IE11 - Windows 7
- IE11 - Windows 8.1
- IE11 - Windows 10
- MS Edge - Windows 10 Stable (13.10586)
- MS Edge - Windows 10 Preview (14.14342)
- MS Edge - Windows 10 Stable (14.14393)
- MS Edge - Windows 10 Preview (15.14959)
- MS Edge - Windows 10 Preview (15.15014)
- MS Edge - Windows 10 Preview (15.15063)
- Activating images
- Rearming images
- Reference
General notes
- Download, re-construct and decompress archive image as per each images instructions below.
- From VirtualBox goto
File
->Import Appliance...
- Select the decompressed Open Virtualization Format
ovf
file. - Review virtual machine name and settings (adjusting to suit if required), then click
Import
. - Before starting the image, create a snapshot of the current machine state - this will allow you to quickly roll back to a fresh virtual machine once the usage period of the OS expires.
- All images are 32bit virtual machines except for the following, which are 64 bit:
- You may need to update the images installed VirtualBox Guest Additions after VM startup to match that of your VirtualBox version.
- It's a smart idea to keep a clean copy of each
ovf
disk image once the OS usage period ends, to avoid a full image re-download hit.
Available images
IE6 - Windows XP
$ mkdir -p ~/vm/ie6-windowsxp && cd ~/vm/ie6-windowsxp
$ wget -ci https://github.com/magnetikonline/linuxmicrosoftievirtualmachines/raw/master/vmarchiveset/ie6-windowsxp.txt
$ cat IE6.XP.For.Linux.VirtualBox.zip.00? >IE6.XP.For.Linux.VirtualBox.zip
$ rm ie6-windowsxp.txt IE6.XP.For.Linux.VirtualBox.zip.00?
$ unzip IE6.XP.For.Linux.VirtualBox.zip
$ rm IE6.XP.For.Linux.VirtualBox.zip
- Use the resulting
IE6 - WinXP.ova
with VirtualBox. - Recommended 256MB RAM minimum.
- Image will give a total of 30 days of use, after which you may be able to rearm the image.
IE7 - Vista Enterprise
Note: Sadly no "IE7 with XP" image has been provided by Microsoft, which could have offered a smaller download.
$ mkdir -p ~/vm/ie7-vista && cd ~/vm/ie7-vista
$ wget -ci https://github.com/magnetikonline/linuxmicrosoftievirtualmachines/raw/master/vmarchiveset/ie7-vista.txt
$ cat IE7.Vista.For.Linux.VirtualBox.zip.00? >IE7.Vista.For.Linux.VirtualBox.zip
$ rm ie7-vista.txt IE7.Vista.For.Linux.VirtualBox.zip.00?
$ unzip IE7.Vista.For.Linux.VirtualBox.zip
$ rm IE7.Vista.For.Linux.VirtualBox.zip
- Use the resulting
IE7 - Vista.ova
with VirtualBox. - Recommended 512MB RAM minimum.
- Image will give a total of 30 days of use, after which you may be able to rearm the image.
IE8 - Windows XP
$ mkdir -p ~/vm/ie8-windowsxp && cd ~/vm/ie8-windowsxp
$ wget -ci https://github.com/magnetikonline/linuxmicrosoftievirtualmachines/raw/master/vmarchiveset/ie8-windowsxp.txt
$ cat IE8.XP.For.Linux.VirtualBox.zip.00? >IE8.XP.For.Linux.VirtualBox.zip
$ rm ie8-windowsxp.txt IE8.XP.For.Linux.VirtualBox.zip.00?
$ unzip IE8.XP.For.Linux.VirtualBox.zip
$ rm IE8.XP.For.Linux.VirtualBox.zip
- Use the resulting
IE8 - WinXP.ova
with VirtualBox. - Recommended 256MB RAM minimum.
- Image will give a total of 30 days of use, after which you may be able to rearm the image.
IE8 - Windows 7
$ mkdir -p ~/vm/ie8-windows7 && cd ~/vm/ie8-windows7
$ wget -ci https://github.com/magnetikonline/linuxmicrosoftievirtualmachines/raw/master/vmarchiveset/ie8-windows7.txt
$ cat IE8.Win7.For.Windows.VirtualBox.zip.00? >IE8.Win7.For.Linux.VirtualBox.zip
$ rm ie8-windows7.txt IE8.Win7.For.Windows.VirtualBox.zip.00?
$ unzip IE8.Win7.For.Linux.VirtualBox.zip
$ rm IE8.Win7.For.Linux.VirtualBox.zip
- Use the resulting
IE8 - Win7.ova
with VirtualBox. - Recommended 1024MB RAM minimum.
- After install you will need to activate the trial to gain a full 90 days usage period, after which you may be able to rearm the image.
IE9 - Windows 7
$ mkdir -p ~/vm/ie9-windows7 && cd ~/vm/ie9-windows7
$ wget -ci https://github.com/magnetikonline/linuxmicrosoftievirtualmachines/raw/master/vmarchiveset/ie9-windows7.txt
$ cat IE9.Win7.For.Linux.VirtualBox.zip.00? >IE9.Win7.For.Linux.VirtualBox.zip
$ rm ie9-windows7.txt IE9.Win7.For.Linux.VirtualBox.zip.00?
$ unzip IE9.Win7.For.Linux.VirtualBox.zip
$ rm IE9.Win7.For.Linux.VirtualBox.zip
- Use the resulting
IE9 - Win7.ova
with VirtualBox. - Recommended 1024MB RAM minimum.
- After install you will need to activate the trial to gain a full 90 days usage period, after which you may be able to rearm the image.
IE10 - Windows 7
$ mkdir -p ~/vm/ie10-windows7 && cd ~/vm/ie10-windows7
$ wget -ci https://github.com/magnetikonline/linuxmicrosoftievirtualmachines/raw/master/vmarchiveset/ie10-windows7.txt
$ cat IE10.Win7.For.Linux.VirtualBox.zip.00? >IE10.Win7.For.Linux.VirtualBox.zip
$ rm ie10-windows7.txt IE10.Win7.For.Linux.VirtualBox.zip.00?
$ unzip IE10.Win7.For.Linux.VirtualBox.zip
$ rm IE10.Win7.For.Linux.VirtualBox.zip
- Use the resulting
IE10 - Win7.ova
with VirtualBox. - Recommended 1024MB RAM minimum.
- After install you will need to activate the trial to gain a full 90 days usage period, after which you may be able to rearm the image.
IE10 - Windows 8
$ mkdir -p ~/vm/ie10-windows8 && cd ~/vm/ie10-windows8
$ wget -ci https://github.com/magnetikonline/linuxmicrosoftievirtualmachines/raw/master/vmarchiveset/ie10-windows8.txt
$ cat IE10.Win8.For.Linux.VirtualBox.zip.00? >IE10.Win8.For.Linux.VirtualBox.zip
$ rm ie10-windows8.txt IE10.Win8.For.Linux.VirtualBox.zip.00?
$ unzip IE10.Win8.For.Linux.VirtualBox.zip
$ rm IE10.Win8.For.Linux.VirtualBox.zip
- Use the resulting
IE10 - Win8.ova
with VirtualBox. - Recommended 1024MB RAM minimum.
- After install you will need to activate the trial to gain a full 90 days usage period, after which you may be able to rearm the image.
IE11 - Windows 7
$ mkdir -p ~/vm/ie11-windows7 && cd ~/vm/ie11-windows7
$ wget -ci https://github.com/magnetikonline/linuxmicrosoftievirtualmachines/raw/master/vmarchiveset/ie11-windows7.txt
$ cat IE11.Win7.For.Linux.VirtualBox.zip.00? >IE11.Win7.For.Linux.VirtualBox.zip
$ rm ie11-windows7.txt IE11.Win7.For.Linux.VirtualBox.zip.00?
$ unzip IE11.Win7.For.Linux.VirtualBox.zip
$ rm IE11.Win7.For.Linux.VirtualBox.zip
- Use the resulting
IE11 - Win7.ova
with VirtualBox. - Recommended 1024MB RAM minimum.
- After install you will need to activate the trial to gain a full 90 days usage period, after which you may be able to rearm the image.
IE11 - Windows 8.1
$ mkdir -p ~/vm/ie11-windows8.1 && cd ~/vm/ie11-windows8.1
$ wget -ci https://github.com/magnetikonline/linuxmicrosoftievirtualmachines/raw/master/vmarchiveset/ie11-windows8.1.txt
$ cat IE11.Win8.1.For.Linux.VirtualBox.zip.00? >IE11.Win8.1.For.Linux.VirtualBox.zip
$ rm ie11-windows8.1.txt IE11.Win8.1.For.Linux.VirtualBox.zip.00?
$ unzip IE11.Win8.1.For.Linux.VirtualBox.zip
$ rm IE11.Win8.1.For.Linux.VirtualBox.zip
- Use the resulting
IE11 - Win8.1.ova
with VirtualBox. - Recommended 1024MB RAM minimum.
- After install you will need to activate the trial to gain a full 90 days usage period, after which you may be able to rearm the image.
IE11 - Windows 10
Important: This image has expired and raised as a bug with Microsoft. As noted (and have personally confirmed), setting your host system clock anytime before April 15th, 2015
will allow the image to boot. Unfortunately you will need to do this each and every image bootup.
$ mkdir -p ~/vm/ie11-windows10 && cd ~/vm/ie11-windows10
$ wget -ci https://github.com/magnetikonline/linuxmicrosoftievirtualmachines/raw/master/vmarchiveset/ie11-windows10.txt
$ cat IE11.Win10.For.Linux.VirtualBox.zip.00? >IE11.Win10.For.Linux.VirtualBox.zip
$ rm ie11-windows10.txt IE11.Win10.For.Linux.VirtualBox.zip.00?
$ unzip IE11.Win10.For.Linux.VirtualBox.zip
$ rm IE11.Win10.For.Linux.VirtualBox.zip
- Use the resulting
IE11 - Win10.ova
with VirtualBox. - Recommended 1024MB RAM minimum.
- After install you will need to activate the trial to gain a full 90 days usage period, after which you may be able to rearm the image.
MS Edge - Windows 10 Stable (13.10586)
$ mkdir -p ~/vm/msedge-windows10-13.10586 && cd ~/vm/msedge-windows10-13.10586
$ wget -ci https://github.com/magnetikonline/linuxmicrosoftievirtualmachines/raw/master/vmarchiveset/msedge-windows10-13.10586.txt
$ unzip MSEdge.Win10TH2.VirtualBox.zip
$ rm msedge-windows10-13.10586.txt MSEdge.Win10TH2.VirtualBox.zip
- Use the resulting
MSEdge - Win10TH2.ova
with VirtualBox. - Recommended 2048MB RAM minimum.
- After install you will need to activate the trial to gain a full 90 days usage period, after which you may be able to rearm the image.
MS Edge - Windows 10 Preview (14.14342)
$ mkdir -p ~/vm/msedge-windows10-14.14342 && cd ~/vm/msedge-windows10-14.14342
$ wget -ci https://github.com/magnetikonline/linuxmicrosoftievirtualmachines/raw/master/vmarchiveset/msedge-windows10-14.14342.txt
$ unzip MSEdge.Win10_preview.VirtualBox.zip
$ rm msedge-windows10-14.14342.txt MSEdge.Win10_preview.VirtualBox.zip
- Use the resulting
MSEdge - Win10_14342.ova
with VirtualBox. - Recommended 2048MB RAM minimum.
- After install you will need to activate the trial to gain a full 90 days usage period, after which you may be able to rearm the image.
MS Edge - Windows 10 Stable (14.14393)
$ mkdir -p ~/vm/msedge-windows10-14.14393 && cd ~/vm/msedge-windows10-14.14393
$ wget -ci https://github.com/magnetikonline/linuxmicrosoftievirtualmachines/raw/master/vmarchiveset/msedge-windows10-14.14393.txt
$ unzip MSEdge.Win10_RS1.VirtualBox.zip
$ rm msedge-windows10-14.14393.txt MSEdge.Win10_RS1.VirtualBox.zip
- Use the resulting
MSEdge - Win10_preview.ova
with VirtualBox. - Recommended 2048MB RAM minimum.
- After install you will need to activate the trial to gain a full 90 days usage period, after which you may be able to rearm the image.
MS Edge - Windows 10 Preview (15.14959)
$ mkdir -p ~/vm/msedge-windows10-15.14959 && cd ~/vm/msedge-windows10-15.14959
$ wget -ci https://github.com/magnetikonline/linuxmicrosoftievirtualmachines/raw/master/vmarchiveset/msedge-windows10-15.14959.txt
$ unzip MSEdge.Win10_preview.VirtualBox.zip
$ rm msedge-windows10-15.14959.txt MSEdge.Win10_preview.VirtualBox.zip
- Use the resulting
MSEdge - Win10_preview.ova
with VirtualBox. - Recommended 2048MB RAM minimum.
- After install you will need to activate the trial to gain a full 90 days usage period, after which you may be able to rearm the image.
MS Edge - Windows 10 Preview (15.15014)
$ mkdir -p ~/vm/msedge-windows10-15.15014 && cd ~/vm/msedge-windows10-15.15014
$ wget -ci https://github.com/magnetikonline/linuxmicrosoftievirtualmachines/raw/master/vmarchiveset/msedge-windows10-15.15014.txt
$ unzip MSEdge.Win10_preview.VirtualBox.zip
$ rm msedge-windows10-15.15014.txt MSEdge.Win10_preview.VirtualBox.zip
- Use the resulting
MSEdge - Win10_preview.ova
with VirtualBox. - Recommended 2048MB RAM minimum.
- After install you will need to activate the trial to gain a full 90 days usage period, after which you may be able to rearm the image.
MS Edge - Windows 10 Preview (15.15063)
$ mkdir -p ~/vm/msedge-windows10-15.15063 && cd ~/vm/msedge-windows10-15.15063
$ wget -ci https://github.com/magnetikonline/linuxmicrosoftievirtualmachines/raw/master/vmarchiveset/msedge-windows10-15.15063.txt
$ unzip MSEdge.Win10_preview.VirtualBox.zip
$ rm msedge-windows10-15.15063.txt MSEdge.Win10_preview.VirtualBox.zip
- Use the resulting
MSEdge - Win10_preview.ova
with VirtualBox. - Recommended 2048MB RAM minimum.
- After install you will need to activate the trial to gain a full 90 days usage period, after which you may be able to rearm the image.
- Note: this release will prompt for password on bootup for the
IEUser
user. Supply the password ofPassw0rd!
to proceed with login.
Activating images
For Windows 7, 8, 8.1 and 10 images once connected to the Internet you will need to activate the OS trial to give a full 90 days of use. Enter the following from the Command Prompt running as administrator (Start - Right click Command Prompt - Run as administrator):
C:\> slmgr /ato
After a short delay you should be presented with a dialog telling you your Windows OS has been successfully activated for a 90 day trial.
Rearming images
For Windows XP, Vista and 7 images you may be able to extend the initial trial usage period once it has expired via the "rearm" process:
-
To rearm a Windows XP image, from the command prompt:
C:\> rundll32.exe syssetup,SetupOobeBnk
-
To rearm Windows Vista and 7 images run the following as an administrator from the command prompt:
C:\> slmgr /rearm
It is not currently possible to rearm the trial period of Windows 8, 8.1 or 10 images.
Reference
- https://developer.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-edge/tools/vms/linux/
- http://modernievirt.blob.core.windows.net/vhd/release_notes_license_terms_1_5_15.pdf
- http://blog.reybango.com/2013/02/04/making-internet-explorer-testing-easier-with-new-ie-vms/
- API endpoint returning latest Microsoft Virtual Machine builds (thanks to Antón Molleda for the tip):