When it’s time to deploy a new web browser across the network then imho it should be done properly and Microsoft provides the tools for that. The only real challenge is getting all the settings as you want them, this will take a little homework but if you have configured GPO settings with IE before then this will be all familiar to you ;) . This is my scenario and how I upgraded IE7 to IE8 across the network.

Start by downloading and then install the Internet Explorer Administration Kit 8 (IEAK 8 ) from Microsoft, this will create the custom *.msi package for deployment across our network.

Now start the Customization Wizard located ‘Start\All Programs\Windows IEAK 8\Internet Explorer Customization Wizard‘. Keep clicking next until you get to the ‘Platform Selection’ screen. This is where you must correctly decide which build you want to deploy across the network, in this example I will be building an XP version x86 based.

Then click next until you get to the Media Selection Screen and make sure that the ‘File’ check box is selected. After that screen you will have a ‘Feature Selection’, personally I leave these all selected but you can trim the browser as much as you would like at this point. Then, on the ‘Automatic Version Synchronization’ screen, choose to synchronize with the latest version on the web as this will give you the very latest build.

Keep pressing next until you get to the ‘User Experience’ screen. As this is a network deployment we really don’t want users to have any interaction with the install so I selected ‘Completely Silent Installation’ and ‘Force Restart’. My company policy dictates that the Browser User Interface should be titled with the company name so simply check the ‘Customize Title Bars’ check box and add the company name to ‘Title Bar Text’ just below.

Search Providers is your call, personally I prefer Google but Google is not an option by default. If you have Google as your search provider already on your currently installed browser then select ‘Import’ and this should add that to the list. After that the rest is as simple as setting your browser through GPO, so set what you like and then keep going through the ‘Next’ button until your happy and you get to the ‘Create Custom Package’ screen and then go for it.

Take note of the build directory, by default it is ‘c:\build\’ and locate your IE8-Setup-Full.msi file. Now finally add the *.msi file to your shared deployment folder and create your new Software Installtion GPO and link it to the correct OU and your done. ;)