Internet Explorer 4

Internet Explorer 4.0

Version of Internet Explorer
Version	4.0
Release date	1997-09
Support end
About

Internet Explorer 4 is a version of Internet Explorer, released in September 1997 for Windows and 6 January 1998 for Mac OS. It can run on Windows 3.1, 95, 98, NT 3.51, NT 4.0, Mac OS 7.1+, and Solaris. Installing Internet Explorer 4 on Windows 95 or Windows NT 4.0 gave users an option to enable the 'Windows Desktop Update', which adds Internet Explorer integration to various parts of the OS. This includes replacing the traditional Windows Explorer with a web browser-like interface, and Internet-enabling the desktop itself via Active Desktop (which includes the infamous 'channel bar' of advertising links). Internet Explorer 4 shipped with Windows 95 OSR 2.5, Windows NT 4.0 Terminal Server Edition (4.01, albeit being an optional install and without Windows Desktop Update) and Windows 98 (4.01 SP1) and was later released for Macintosh.

This version also updates parts of the logo branding, using the well-known "e" icon introduced in Internet Explorer 3.

List of known builds

16-bit version

Platform Preview

4.0.1005

4.0.1009.3

4.0.1321

RTM

4.00.1812

32-bit version

Nashville Plus Pack

4.70.1056

4.70.1072

4.70.1074

Alpha

4.70.1101

4.70.1158

4.70.1169

4.71.0225

Platform Preview 1

4.71.0517.5

4.71.0531.0

4.71.0531.1

4.71.0544

Platform Preview 2

4.71.0603.1

4.71.0718.1

4.71.0812.1

4.71.0828.0

4.71.0904.1

4.71.0911.1

4.71.0913.5

4.71.1003.0

4.71.1008.3

4.71.1008.4

Plus Beta 2

4.71.1116

4.71.1125.1

4.71.1127.1

IE 4.01 Beta

4.72.0103

4.72.0118

4.72.2002

4.72.2027

4.72.2103

4.72.2106.2

4.72.2106.6

IE 4.01 SP1 Beta

4.72.2908

4.72.2915

4.72.2922

4.72.3007

4.72.3026

IE 4.01 SP2 Beta

4.72.3418

4.72.3610.0800

4.72.3610.1000

RTM

4.71.1712.6 (4.0)

4.72.2106.8 (4.01)

4.72.3110.1 (4.01 SP1(a))

4.72.3612.1713 (4.01 SP2)

4.72.3682.1707 (4.01 SP2)

Easter egg

There's a hidden easter egg in this version. To activate the egg, open the About dialog box, drag the IE logo to the globe while holding the ⇧ Shift key, then push the "Microsoft Internet Explorer 4.0" wordmark away. A "Unlock" button appears; click on it and drag the logo to the globe. The globe will zoom up and a list of Internet Explorer developers will show up.

Gallery

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  Setup

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  First boot

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  Windows NT 4.0 build 1381.335a with Active Desktop

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  Windows 2000 build 1515.1 with Active Desktop

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  Windows 98 build 1559 with Active Desktop

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  Windows 98 build 1900.6 with Active Desktop

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  Internet Explorer 4 build 1008.4 on Windows 2000 build 1631.1

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  Internet Explorer first load (loads a long-gone page from Microsoft)

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  Demo