Some of our Windows VPS installations will have Internet Explorer Enhanced Security Configuration (IE ESC) enabled by default. This may be problematic when trying to browse the web or download files. You may also find IE ESC enabled after updating IE to a newer version, or after Windows updates.

Contents

Determine if IE ESC is enabled

Disable ESC on Server 2003

Disable ESC on Server 2008


Determine if IE ESC is enabled

If the following message is shown when starting IE, then IE ESC is not enabled, so browsing the web and downloading files should work as expected and you can skip this guide.


IEESCOffIEStarted


If presented with the message shown in the image below, IE ESC is enabled. If you would like to use IE to browse the web and download files with minimal or no ongoing configuration, then follow the guide for the version of Windows running on your VPS to disable IE ESC.


IEESCEnabled


Disable ESC on Server 2003

Disable ESC on Server 2008


Server 2003


Step 1. Open up a Remote Desktop Connection to your VPS.


Step 2. From the Start menu go to Control Panel then Add or Remove Programs, as shown in the image below.


2003AddRemoveProgs


Step 3. Click Add/Remove Windows Components


2003AddRemoveComponents


Step 4. Uncheck the box for Internet Explorer Enhanced Security Configuration then click Next.


2003UncheckESC


Step 5. Click Finish when prompted, after the IE ESC components have been removed.


2003FinishWizard


Step 6. Start Internet Explorer. If you have successfully followed the steps above, you will see the following message.


IEESCOffIEStarted



Server 2008

Step 1. Open up a Remote Desktop Connection to your VPS.


Step 2. Start the Server Manager tool by clicking its quick launch icon which is adjacent to the Start menu.


2008StartServerManager


Step 3. Click 'Configure IE ESC' located on the right side of the Server Manager under the Security Information section.


2008OpenESCConfig


Step 4. Select 'Off' in the Administrators and Users sections, then click OK.


2008IEESCConfig


Step 5. You should now see in the Security Information section that IE ESC is off for Administrators and Users.


2008IEESCSecInfoOff


Step 6. Start Internet Explorer. You will now be presented with a warning message that IE ESC is not enabled.


IEESCOffIEStarted