How to Run Internet Explorer 24x7 as a Windows Service with AlwaysUp

Internet Explorer is the world's most popular web browser.

To configure Internet Explorer with AlwaysUp:

1. Download and install AlwaysUp, if necessary.

2. Download and install Internet Explorer if necessary. By default, Internet Explorer is installed to C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer and we will use that setting in the steps below.

3. Start AlwaysUp.

4. Select Application > Add to open the Add Application window:

   

5. On the General tab:

   • In the Application field, enter the full path to IE's executable file, iexplore.exe. Since we installed Internet Explorer in the default directory, we have specified:

     C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\iexplore.exe

   • In the Name field, enter the name that you will call the application in AlwaysUp. We have used Internet Explorer but feel free to specify virtually anything you like.

   • Enter any command line switches you wish to use in the Arguments field. For example, to run the browser in kiosk mode (full screen, without the toolbars) and automatically open to the Kiva web site, specify:

     -k http://www.kiva.org

   

6. Click over to the Logon tab and enter the user name and password of the account where you have configured Internet Explorer. If you don't specify an account here, IE will run in the system account and will probably come up with the default configuration.

   

7. Click over to the Startup tab and check the Ensure that the Windows Networking components have started box. This informs AlwaysUp that Internet Explorer needs the TCP/IP networking stack to operate.

   

8. Click the Save >> button. In a couple of seconds, an application called Internet Explorer will show up in the AlwaysUp window. It is not yet running though.

   

9. To start Internet Explorer, choose Application > Start "Internet Explorer":

   

   Internet Explorer will be running in the isolated Session 0. Select Tools > Switch to Session 0 to see it:

   

   Or you can select Application > Restart "Internet Explorer" in this session to quickly stop the browser and restart it on your desktop:

   

10. Note: If running IE in the background in Session 0 is not an option and Internet Explorer must be visible on screen (for example, if you are constructing a kiosk-type application), you may want to follow these instructions to auto-login and run Internet Explorer in a "regular" user session.

11. That's it! Next time your computer boots, Internet Explorer will start up immediately, before anyone logs on. We encourage you to edit Internet Explorer in AlwaysUp and check out the many other settings that may be appropriate for your environment.

Internet Explorer not working properly as a Windows Service?

• From AlwaysUp, select Application > Report Activity > Today... to bring up a HTML report detailing the interaction between AlwaysUp and your application. The AlwaysUp Event Log Messages page explains the more obscure messages.
• Consult the AlwaysUp FAQ for answers to commonly asked questions and troubleshooting tips.
• Contact us and we will be happy to help!