Testing on Multiple IE version.

Testing Websites or web based application on different IE on same PC is a bit tidious job.Many times you will get javascript error that is not fault of application but it is due to IE Configuration problem. In order to proceed with testing in such kind of situation here are the two approaches.
1. Configure virtual machine on your PC. like VMware Workstation, Ms Virtual Server etc. This software allows you to make two system in your current system, say you can have Windows 2000 in your Windows XP or XP in XP.

2. Install a freeware available as Multiple IE’s and proceed with the testing.In this you can install various of IE on the same machine viz- IE 6, IE 7 and the latest IE 8.

Installation testing

1. New install with defaults to a clean environment
2. New install with custom settings to clean environment
3. Upgrade install with defaults to a clean environment (install previous version to a clean environment and then lay over the Upgrade)
4. Repeat #1 & #2 to a ‘dirty environment’ (meaning other software is loaded other than OS)
5. Repeat #3 to a ‘dirty environment’
6. Silent New Install (both clean and dirty environments)
7. Silent Upgrade Install (both clean and dirty environments)
9. Modify after New Install
10. Modify after Upgrade Install
11. Patch/HotFix after New Install
12 Patch/HotFix after Upgrade Install
13. Cancel New Install – Do this for various points during Install process
14. Cancel Upgrade Install – Do this for various points during Install process
15. Cancel Patch Install – Do this for various points during Install process
16. Kill the installer process (fake a failure condition) for each type of install and see if it recovers correctly on restart.
17. During install process do various types of error injections; incorrect path, non-existent target directory/folder, illegal directory/folder name, etc.
18. Low disk space conditions
19. Insuffient user rights
20. Install to a Network drive
21. Uninstall of New installation
22. Uninstall of an Upgrade installation
23. Uninstall of a Patch installation
24. Cancel of Uninstall for 21-23

For each of these scenarios you will need to watch for the following:
a) Correct placement of files
b) Correct update to INI, CFG, etc. type associated files
c) Version checking of common files (DLL’s or other files) before overlay.
d) Environment variables and paths if modified
e) Inserts and changes to Registry & key entries
f) On uninstalls you need to make sure all files (that can be removed) are cleaned up, and any other changes (c,d,e) are put back to what they were before.

Common issues with installs are:
1. Error handling for various things; incorrect path, invalid folder name, install across a network drive (UNC paths vs. mapped drive), overlay without version check of common system files, etc.
2. Cleanup process for failed or canceled installs.
3. Cleanup of files and other system changes after uninstall
4. Disk space availability checks
5. Permissions (Local Admin vs. Std. User) to run program and access disk. Very typical with Network drives.
6. Silent installs going wacky and not recovering correctly.