Running IE 8/9/10/11/Edge Virtual machines from Microsoft under Linux via VirtualBox

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Microsoft have (sadly) removed most (if not all) of these VM images from their public CDN. Repository will remain for historical purposes.

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Detailed step-by-step notes for installing the Microsoft provided Internet Explorer virtual machines under Linux using VirtualBox.

Tested under Ubuntu 16.04LTS (previously 14.04LTS) with VirtualBox version 5.2.

• General notes
• Available images
  • IE8 - Windows 7
  • IE9 - Windows 7
  • IE10 - Windows 7
  • IE11 - Windows 7
  • IE11 - Windows 8.1
  • 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)
  • MS Edge - Windows 10 Stable (16.16299)
  • MS Edge - Windows 10 Preview (17.17074)
  • MS Edge - Windows 10 Preview (17.17127)
  • MS Edge - Windows 10 Stable (17.17134)
• 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.
• Images are 32bit virtual machines except for the following, which are 64 bit:
  • 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)
  • MS Edge - Windows 10 Stable (16.16299)
  • MS Edge - Windows 10 Preview (17.17074)
  • MS Edge - Windows 10 Preview (17.17127)
  • MS Edge - Windows 10 Stable (17.17134)
• 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

IE8 - Windows 7

$ mkdir --parents ~/vm/ie8-windows7 && cd ~/vm/ie8-windows7
$ wget --continue --input-file https://github.com/magnetikonline/linuxmicrosoftievirtualmachines/raw/main/vmarchiveset/ie8-windows7.txt
$ unzip IE8.Win7.VirtualBox.zip
$ rm IE8.Win7.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 --parents ~/vm/ie9-windows7 && cd ~/vm/ie9-windows7
$ wget --continue --input-file https://github.com/magnetikonline/linuxmicrosoftievirtualmachines/raw/main/vmarchiveset/ie9-windows7.txt
$ unzip IE9.Win7.VirtualBox.zip
$ rm IE9.Win7.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 --parents ~/vm/ie10-windows7 && cd ~/vm/ie10-windows7
$ wget --continue --input-file https://github.com/magnetikonline/linuxmicrosoftievirtualmachines/raw/main/vmarchiveset/ie10-windows7.txt
$ unzip IE10.Win7.VirtualBox.zip
$ rm IE10.Win7.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.

IE11 - Windows 7

$ mkdir --parents ~/vm/ie11-windows7 && cd ~/vm/ie11-windows7
$ wget --continue --input-file https://github.com/magnetikonline/linuxmicrosoftievirtualmachines/raw/main/vmarchiveset/ie11-windows7.txt
$ unzip IE11.Win7.VirtualBox.zip
$ rm IE11.Win7.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 --parents ~/vm/ie11-windows8.1 && cd ~/vm/ie11-windows8.1
$ wget --continue --input-file https://github.com/magnetikonline/linuxmicrosoftievirtualmachines/raw/main/vmarchiveset/ie11-windows8.1.txt
$ unzip IE11.Win81.VirtualBox.zip
$ rm IE11.Win81.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.

MS Edge - Windows 10 Stable (13.10586)

$ mkdir --parents ~/vm/msedge-windows10-13.10586 && cd ~/vm/msedge-windows10-13.10586
$ wget --continue --input-file https://github.com/magnetikonline/linuxmicrosoftievirtualmachines/raw/main/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 --parents ~/vm/msedge-windows10-14.14342 && cd ~/vm/msedge-windows10-14.14342
$ wget --continue --input-file https://github.com/magnetikonline/linuxmicrosoftievirtualmachines/raw/main/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 --parents ~/vm/msedge-windows10-14.14393 && cd ~/vm/msedge-windows10-14.14393
$ wget --continue --input-file https://github.com/magnetikonline/linuxmicrosoftievirtualmachines/raw/main/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 --parents ~/vm/msedge-windows10-15.14959 && cd ~/vm/msedge-windows10-15.14959
$ wget --continue --input-file https://github.com/magnetikonline/linuxmicrosoftievirtualmachines/raw/main/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 --parents ~/vm/msedge-windows10-15.15014 && cd ~/vm/msedge-windows10-15.15014
$ wget --continue --input-file https://github.com/magnetikonline/linuxmicrosoftievirtualmachines/raw/main/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 --parents ~/vm/msedge-windows10-15.15063 && cd ~/vm/msedge-windows10-15.15063
$ wget --continue --input-file https://github.com/magnetikonline/linuxmicrosoftievirtualmachines/raw/main/vmarchiveset/msedge-windows10-15.15063.txt
$ unzip MSEdge.Win10.RS2.VirtualBox.zip
$ rm msedge-windows10-15.15063.txt MSEdge.Win10.RS2.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 of Passw0rd! to proceed with login.

MS Edge - Windows 10 Stable (16.16299)

$ mkdir --parents ~/vm/msedge-windows10-16.16299 && cd ~/vm/msedge-windows10-16.16299
$ wget --continue --input-file https://github.com/magnetikonline/linuxmicrosoftievirtualmachines/raw/main/vmarchiveset/msedge-windows10-16.16299.txt
$ unzip MSEdge.Win10.VirtualBox.zip
$ rm msedge-windows10-16.16299.txt MSEdge.Win10.VirtualBox.zip

• Use the resulting MSEdge - Win10.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 (17.17074)

$ mkdir --parents ~/vm/msedge-windows10-17.17074 && cd ~/vm/msedge-windows10-17.17074
$ wget --continue --input-file https://github.com/magnetikonline/linuxmicrosoftievirtualmachines/raw/main/vmarchiveset/msedge-windows10-17.17074.txt
$ unzip MSEdge.Win10_preview.VirtualBox.zip
$ rm msedge-windows10-17.17074.txt MSEdge.Win10_preview.VirtualBox.zip

• Use the resulting MSEdge - Win10.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 (17.17127)

$ mkdir --parents ~/vm/msedge-windows10-17.17127 && cd ~/vm/msedge-windows10-17.17127
$ wget --continue --input-file https://github.com/magnetikonline/linuxmicrosoftievirtualmachines/raw/main/vmarchiveset/msedge-windows10-17.17127.txt
$ unzip MSEdge.Win10_preview.VirtualBox.zip
$ rm msedge-windows10-17.17127.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 Stable (17.17134)

$ mkdir --parents ~/vm/msedge-windows10-17.17134 && cd ~/vm/msedge-windows10-17.17134
$ wget --continue --input-file https://github.com/magnetikonline/linuxmicrosoftievirtualmachines/raw/main/vmarchiveset/msedge-windows10-17.17134.txt
$ unzip MSEdge.Win10.VirtualBox.zip
$ rm msedge-windows10-17.17134.txt MSEdge.Win10.VirtualBox.zip

• Use the resulting MSEdge - Win10.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.

Activating images

For Windows 7, 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 7 images you may be able to extend the initial trial usage period once it has expired via the "rearm" process. Enter the following as an administrator from the command prompt:

C:\> slmgr /rearm

It is not currently possible to rearm the trial period of Windows 8.1 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
• https://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):
  • https://developer.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-edge/api/tools/vms/