IEFix: The Ultimate Guide to Fixing Internet Explorer Issues

Faster Enterprise Migrations with IEFix ToolsEnterprise IT teams face a recurring, time-consuming challenge: migrating large numbers of desktops, applications, and workflows from legacy Internet Explorer–dependent environments to modern browsers and platforms. IEFix is a suite of tools designed specifically to accelerate and de-risk these migrations by identifying IE dependencies, automating compatibility fixes, and enabling phased rollouts that minimize end-user disruption. This article explains how IEFix works, why it matters, common migration patterns, and an implementation roadmap for enterprise-scale projects.

Why IE migrations are hard

Many enterprises still run critical web applications that were built specifically for Internet Explorer or rely on deprecated features such as ActiveX controls, VBScript, or proprietary CSS/HTML behaviors. Challenges include:

• Large application inventories with unknown IE-specific dependencies
• Tight coupling between legacy web apps and backend systems
• User workflows that break when behavior subtly changes in modern browsers
• Compliance and security risks from continuing to use outdated engines

IEFix addresses these issues by providing automated discovery, targeted fixes, and testing capabilities, allowing IT to move faster with confidence.

What IEFix tools do (core capabilities)

1. Automated dependency discovery

   • Scans corporate networks and endpoints to build an inventory of web applications and pages that rely on IE-only features.
   • Reports include usage statistics, affected URLs, and dependency types (ActiveX, document modes, custom headers, etc.).

2. Compatibility shimming and rewriting

   • Applies lightweight shims or polyfills where feasible to emulate IE behavior in modern browsers.
   • Provides automated code transformations for common patterns (e.g., converting VBScript snippets to JavaScript, replacing deprecated APIs).

3. Enterprise policy and browser configuration management

   • Integrates with group policy, MDM, or endpoint management tools to set per-site compatibility modes, redirect rules, or browser isolation policies.
   • Enables phased rollout: route only impacted sites through compatibility layers.

4. Testing and validation automation

   • Runs automated UI and regression tests across a matrix of browsers and versions to verify functional parity.
   • Generates actionable reports highlighting failed cases and suggested remediation steps.

5. Monitoring and rollback controls

   • Tracks user experience and errors post-migration, allowing rapid rollback of changes for problematic sites.
   • Provides analytics for continuous improvement and compliance auditing.

Typical migration approaches using IEFix

• Assessment-first (least risk)

  1. Run a full discovery to inventory IE dependencies.
  2. Prioritize applications by business impact and effort.
  3. Apply targeted shims for low-effort fixes; schedule redevelopment for high-effort apps.

• Phased compatibility layer

  1. Use IEFix to create a compatibility routing policy that forwards only legacy URLs to an IE-enabled runtime (or virtualization/isolation environment).
  2. Gradually expand testing and disable IE access as applications are fixed or replaced.

• Parallel modernization

  1. For high-value applications, use IEFix’s rewrite assistance and test automation to accelerate full modernization (rewrite to standards-compliant HTML/JS).
  2. Keep compatibility routing in place until modernization completes.

Benefits measured

• Reduced remediation time: Automated discovery and fixes cut manual analysis by weeks or months for large estates.
• Lower operational risk: Phased rollouts and targeted compatibility reduce user disruption and emergency fixes.
• Cost savings: Avoids wholesale virtualization or extended IE support licensing by addressing root causes.
• Better security posture: Moves workloads into modern, regularly-updated browsers and reduces attack surface from deprecated components.

Typical organizations report a 40–70% reduction in migration time when using tools that provide automated discovery, shimming, and testing compared with purely manual approaches.

Implementation roadmap (90–180 days for many enterprises)

1. Planning and stakeholder alignment (2–4 weeks)

   • Identify business owners, application owners, and define success metrics (availability, functionality parity, user experience).

2. Discovery and inventory (2–6 weeks)

   • Deploy IEFix scanners across environments; gather usage telemetry and categorize sites by dependency type and criticality.

3. Pilot fixes and compatibility routing (4–8 weeks)

   • Select 5–10 representative applications for pilot. Apply shims and routing policies; run automated tests and collect user feedback.

4. Phased rollout and remediation (8–12 weeks)

   • Expand fixes and routing across prioritized applications. Begin redevelopment of high-effort apps in parallel.

5. Monitoring, tuning, and decommissioning IE access (ongoing)

   • Use IEFix monitoring to validate success metrics and progressively disable legacy routes. Document remaining exceptions for long-term remediation.

Common pitfalls and how IEFix helps avoid them

• Underestimating hidden dependencies: IEFix’s deep scanning uncovers rarely used pages and frames that manual audits miss.
• Blind redevelopments: Automated testing built into IEFix ensures functional parity so developers don’t break workflows during modernization.
• User resistance: Compatibility routing provides a safety net to keep user workflows working while backend changes occur.
• Compliance gaps: Audit trails and reports show which sites were routed or modified, helping meet audit requirements.

Example: bank migration case study (concise)

An international bank had 2,500 web apps with unknown IE dependencies. Using IEFix, they:

• Discovered 320 apps with ActiveX/VBScript dependencies.
• Applied shims to 210 low-risk apps and set compatibility routing for 80 legacy apps.
• Rewrote 30 high-value apps with IEFix-assisted code transforms and automated tests.
• Completed migration in 4 months vs. an estimated 9–12 months manually.

Results: 60% faster migration, fewer help-desk tickets, and improved browser security posture.

When not to use shims — choose modernization

Shims and emulation are bridges, not permanent solutions. Use them when:

• The app is low-business-value or scheduled for eventual retirement.
• Time or budget constraints prevent immediate redevelopment.
• Immediate security risks are mitigated and a migration plan exists.

Choose full modernization when an app is strategic, needs new features, or long-term maintenance would be cheaper than ongoing shims.

Checklist for success

• Get executive sponsorship and clear KPIs.
• Start with discovery and evidence-based prioritization.
• Use pilot projects to validate tool effectiveness and processes.
• Combine shimming, routing, and modernization based on ROI per app.
• Maintain monitoring and an iterative remediation backlog.

Faster enterprise migrations with IEFix tools balance pragmatic compatibility fixes with long-term modernization. By automating discovery, applying targeted emulation, and validating changes with testing and monitoring, organizations can reduce migration timelines, lower costs, and improve security without disrupting business workflows.