Using 32 bit element with IE 64 bit

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Hi

I am using Internet Eplorer 11.x 64 bit on Windows 8.1 Update 64 bit.

Unfortunately, I still have some 32 bit element as Browser Helper Objects (BHOs), toolbars and ActiveX controls.

Is there a solution to make sure that all these 32 bit elements work correctly with IE 11 64 bit?

Because I’m a system administrator, I would like that this solution would apply to all existing accounts and to those that I will create.

Thanks

Bye

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There is no real problem with x64 architecture and software incorporating x86 snippets. If it isn’t working correctly, it will let you know almost immediately. Many of these x86 elements do not have an x64 equivalent.

Always create a fresh drive image before making system changes/Windows updates; you may need to start over!

We all have our own reasons for doing the things that we do with our systems; we don't need anyone's approval, and we don't all have to do the same things.

We were all once "Average Users".

Computer Specs

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Desktop IE11 should run them unless you enable Enhanced Protected Mode:

In the Metro-style experience of Internet Explorer, all Content Processes will run at 64bit (on Win64), which means that they benefit from the improved security provided in 64bit. The compatibility impact is minimal because Metro-style IE does not load any browser add-ons (Toolbars, BHOs, and non-browser-platform COM objects like MIME Handlers, URLMon Protocol Handlers, MIME Filters, ActiveX controls, etc).

In Internet Explorer on the Desktop, by default, Content Processes remain at 32bit by default for compatibility with 32bit ActiveX controls, Toolbars, BHOs, etc. Even when you directly launch the 64bit iexplore.exe executable, you will still have a 64bit Manager Process that hosts only 32bit Content Processes. If you want to enable 64bit Content Processes for the Desktop, you must tick the Enable Enhanced Protected Mode option in the Security section of Internet Explorer’s Tools > Internet Options > Advanced tab. When this option is enabled, all Content Processes that are running in Protected Mode (e.g. Internet Zone and Restricted Zone, by default) will begin to use 64bit Content Processes.

Understanding Enhanced Protected Mode

After you enable Enhanced Protected Mode, incompatible add-ons will automatically be disabled. If you encounter a site that needs an add-on such as Flash in order to work, you can disable Enhanced Protected Mode just for that particular Web site.

Notification message which reads “This webpage wants to run ‘Adobe Flash Player 10.3 d162’. If you trust this site, you can disable Enhanced Protected Mode for this site to run the control.” The notication bar contains one button labeled “Disable”.

This allows you to continue using the site, and have Enhanced Protected Mode enabled on the rest of the Internet. Keep in mind that you should only do this if you know and trust the Web site.

Enhanced Protected Mode

If you have enabled ActiveX Filtering, you may need to disable it for particular sites or all sites:

Once you enable ActiveX Filtering, IE prevents ActiveX controls from running on all Web sites. When you visit a Web page that contains ActiveX controls, notice that ActiveX content is blocked from loading on the page. IE displays fallback content chosen by the site’s author if it is available.

Instead of displaying a prominent notification prompting you to install or enable controls, IE stays out of the way of your browsing while it also makes it easy for you to turn off filtering when you need to. IE displays an icon in the address bar to indicate that some content has been filtered on the site.

If a Web site contains ActiveX content that you want to view, you can turn off filtering for just the current Web site. When you click on the icon in the address bar, IE displays the fly-out window:

You can click “Turn off ActiveX Filtering” for just the current site. Once you take action, IE refreshes the Web page to ensure that ActiveX controls are properly instantiated in place of any fallback content that was originally present on the page. ActiveX controls from other Web pages under the same domain (in the above case, msn.com) will also be unblocked.

The icon on the address bar changes color to indicate that you have turned off filtering on this Web site. After you’ve finished viewing the content, you can turn ActiveX Filtering back on by clicking on the icon again, which re-displays the fly-out window:

ActiveX Filtering

Bruce

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