Top 11 must-have Internet Explorer Addons

In case you’re one of those folks using that other browser (aka Internet Explorer or IE),this post is for you. Here, you’ll find a bunch of cool browser extras (other then Google Toolbar) to make Internet Exlorer way more usable.

Update: IE7 Pro was moved to the front due to the fact that it incorporates several frequently used features in one addon.

(1) IE7Pro (only IE 7) – little overwhelming and takes some time to get used to, but totally worth it. Includes powerful tab manager, AD or Flash blocking utility, Crash recovery, Proxy switcher, Web accelerator, User Agent switcher, Webpage capturer, Greasemonkey scripts support, Firefox style inline search, spell checker and some more.

(2) LeechVideo – handy IE addon that lets you download favorite videos from popular video sharing websites (i.e. Youtube, Google Video, DailyMotion, etc.). Other alternatives: Viloader |Video Downloader

(3) Inline Search – integrates an in-page search feature to Internet Explorer. Use ‘CTR+F’ to launch it in the left-bottom corner of your browser window.

(4) ShareThis – lets you quickly (1) email webpages (or embedded pictures or videos) to friends or contacts (gmail, myspace, facebook…) and (2) post notes to your Facebook/Myspace profiles.

(5) Convert with Zamzar – browser addon from a comprehensive, web-based file conversion service, Zamzar. Lets you convert and download desired files from your favorite websites at the click of a button on your browser toolbar. It can be a Youtube video that you want to play in Windows Media Player, a Flickr image that you need in JPEG format, or a word file that you need in PDF.

(6) Browster – integrates link preview capabilities into your browser. For instance, each time you search on Google, Yahoo, MSN or visit some popular website Browster places a special icon next to each link, hovering your mouse cursor over it triggers a pop-up window displaying the contents of the destination page. Other alternative: Cooliris

(7) FeedsPlus (only IE 7) – in case you’re using your browser to follow-up on feeds, then this is for you. It adds couple of handy features, i.e. ability to read feeds in a combined view and receive pop-up notifications when there are new items to read.

(8) ieSpell – allows you to spell check text input boxes on any webpage (i.e. web mails, forum posts, blog comments, etc.)

(9) McAfee Site Advisor (only IE 5.5 – 6.0) – slim and easy-to-use security addon, features include:

• protects you from adware, spyware, spam, viruses and online scams
• advises you about the safety of websites using a colored button in your browser
• places website safety ratings next to each search result

(10) IeSessions – lets you save the current state of all open windows/tabs, store it to a file and restore it anytime afterwards. Especially useful if you have to switch between multiple computers (i.e. office, home) during the day.

(11) Videoronk (only IE 7) – add ‘Videoronk’ to your search toolbar and you’ll be able to search on top 8 video sharing websites simultaneously (Youtube, Google Video, Vimeo, Metacafe, iFilm, Blip.tv, Revver, DailyMotion and Myspace Video).

BONUS: Internet Explorer Shortcuts

Here is another EXCELLENT find for Internet Explorer users. We put together a list of essential IE shortcuts for you. This will make you more productive and save you tons of time. You can download the printable shortcut sheet for Internet Explorer from here.

Reset Internet Explorer settings

By resetting Internet Explorer settings, you return Internet Explorer to the state it was in when it was first installed on your computer. This is useful for troubleshooting problems that might be caused by settings that were changed after installation. When you delete personal settings, some webpages that rely on previously stored cookies, form data, passwords, or previously installed browser add-ons might not work correctly. Resetting Internet Explorer to its default settings does not delete your favorites, feeds, Web Slices, and a few other personalized settings. See the table below for a complete list of all settings and information about whether they are reset or maintained.

Resetting Internet Explorer's settings is not reversible. After a reset, all previous settings are lost and cannot be recovered. Rather than resetting everything, you might want to reset specific settings or delete your webpage history. For more information, see the links at the bottom of this topic.

Watch this video to learn how to reset Internet Explorer settings (2:07)

Internet Explorer settings that are affected by a reset

The following table describes what will happen to various settings when you reset Internet Explorer.

Settings categories	Items affected
Settings that are deleted	Disabled toolbars and add-ons Websites added to intranet, trusted, or restricted zones Websites added for special cookie handling under the Privacy tab Websites allowed to use pop-ups under Pop-up Blocker settings
Settings that are reset to Windows, manufacturer, Internet provider, or corporate defaults	Home page (for information about backing up your home page tabs, see Back up your home page or home page tabs) Search providers, tabbed browsing settings Colors, languages, fonts, and accessibility settings (General tab) Security settings for all zones (Security tab) Advanced tab settings Privacy tab settings Pop-up blocker, AutoComplete, SmartScreen Filter, and Zoom settings Page setup, toolbar, and text size settings Feeds settings (sync and notification, not feeds themselves) ActiveX controls that are not on the pre-approved list (reset to opt-in state) Toolbars, browser helper objects, and browser extensions are disabled
Settings that are deleted (Delete personal settings is selected)	Browser history, temporary Internet files, cookies, form data, and stored passwords Typed URL information, menu extensions InPrivate Filtering data Explorer most recently used list
Settings and items that are maintained	Favorites Feeds and Web Slices Content Advisor settings Pre-approved ActiveX controls Temporary Internet file (cache) path settings Certificate information Internet Programs (e‑mail, instant messenger, and other programs associated with Internet use) Internet connection, proxy, and VPN settings Default web browser setting Toolbars are not restored

To reset Internet Explorer settings

1. Close any Internet Explorer or Windows Explorer windows that are currently open.

2. Open Internet Explorer by clicking the Start button . In the search box, typeInternet Explorer, and then, in the list of results, click Internet Explorer.

3. Click the Tools button, and then click Internet Options.

4. Click the Advanced tab, and then click Reset.

5. Select the Delete personal settings check box if you would like to remove browsing history, search providers, Accelerators, home pages, and InPrivate Filtering data.

6. In the Reset Internet Explorer Settings dialog box, click Reset.

7. When Internet Explorer finishes restoring the settings, click Close, and then click OK.

8. Close Internet Explorer.

   Your changes will take effect the next time you open Internet Explorer.

Notes

• If you close all visible windows, but still get an error message when trying to reset, you might have programs running that are not visible. Restart Windows, open Internet Explorer, and try resetting again.

• To back up your home page or home page set before resetting Internet Explorer defaults, see Back up your home page or home page tabs.

• If any of the categories fail to reset, it is because Internet Explorer could not access a file or registry setting. This can be caused by insufficient security privileges, files or settings being used by another program, or low memory or high CPU usage. You can either continue to use Internet Explorer without restoring these settings, or restart your computer and try to reset again.

• If you are using Internet Explorer on a server and have turned off Enhanced Security Configuration or hardening (stronger security settings for use on servers), reset will go to client-level security. You must reinstall hardening if you want the increased security level. For more information on Enhanced Security Configuration, see Enhanced Security Configuration for Internet Explorer online.

• To re-enable add-ons, see Internet Explorer add-ons: frequently asked questions.

Install Java in Internet Explorer

Java is a technology used to create interactive or animated web content, such as games or advanced financial applications. Java programs are downloaded automatically to your computer when you use them and don't usually require special installation. To run Java programs in Internet Explorer, however, you must install special Java software. When you install Java, it is enabled by default and configured with safety settings at their highest.

To install Java, follow these steps:

1. Open Internet Explorer by clicking the Start button . In the search box, typeInternet Explorer, and then, in the list of results, click Internet Explorer.

2. Go to the Java.com website.

3. Click the Free Java Download button. This should take you to the Java installation screen. If you're prompted for an administrator password or confirmation, type the password or provide confirmation.

4. If a yellow Information bar appears (warning you that the website requires an ActiveX control or add-on from Sun Microsystems), click the yellow bar and then click Install ActiveX Control or Install Add-on. When a Security Warning dialog box appears, click Install.

5. In the Welcome dialog box, click the View License Agreement button to read about the agreement, and then click Accept if you want to install Java. (Note that you can also change where Java is installed from the default location of C:\Program Files\Java by selecting the Change destination folder check box and by following the instructions.)

6. In addition to Java, you can also install the MSN Toolbar. The MSN Toolbar offers headlines, news alerts, and search tools from Microsoft. For more information see the MSN Toolbar home page. To install the toolbar, click the Terms of Use orPrivacy Statement buttons and then read the statements. If you don't want to install the toolbar, clear the Install the new MSN Toolbar check box.

7. When you see the successful completion dialog box, click Finish. Java does not require any additional settings or restarts. If you installed the MSN Toolbar, you will see it when you open a new window or tab.

Note

To remove the Java software from your computer, uninstall it by usingUninstall or change a program in Windows Control Panel.