Thursday, December 3, 2009

Hide IE8 address bar - leaving back, forward, stop and print buttons

Please purchase the instructions for $4.99USD  (a value of over $100 for Microsoft support) :










1. Get the scripts and icon files for each function e.g. back.html and back.ico (get it here [Download]).
2. Place these in C:\IENav -- make new folder on C drive called IENav
3. Custom reg key to add launch paths and register the guid of the API's for these controls. IE8 with nav controls.txt [View or Download]

4. Run/Merge the custom reg file to add controls to the registry. (Does not require a reboot) Once done open IE7-8 and the Address Bar should now be hidden with the new navigation controls placed on the command bar.
I've renamed the vb and reg files with a txt extension so there aren't any issues with firewalls etc. You will just need to remove the .txt extension.

The icon, html and/or javascript files should all reside in your own folder called IENav and should sit directly under C:\ drive. (See Toolbar.vbs or Toolbar.reg).

If you wish to change this location then you will need to edit the Toolbar.vbs or Toolbar.reg (Whichever option you choose) to point to the new location.

The files (first download above) are for IE7 users however IE8 users can still use these files but will need to rename the .js files from .js to .html, e.g refresh.js would become refresh.html.  
You will also need to edit the vb script or reg key (which ever they use) and change any reference to .js to .html.

[Update Nov. 2011] if you would like to also add print and stop buttons download (mirror)

If you have questions or comments you can leave them below or email to theborisedu at gmail dot com
[Special thanks to Scott Alchin (salchin1 at exemail dot com dot au), read my "how to lock down internet explorer 8 with GPO registry" instructions/article and contributed the instructions above]

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

This is exactly what I needed. Thanks!

Anonymous said...

Did not work for me Win7 and IE8

theborisedu said...

I guess only works on XP. Sorry.

the IT dad said...

hello there, i followed the steps here but this only made the address bar disappear and i can't see the navigation buttons, do you have any idea why this is happening? Windows XP SP3 with IE8. Thank you

Warren said...

I love this. But I can't get it to work. The buttons appear but don't work :( I'm not sure if my IE settings are messing it up. I've looked around but can't tell.

Unknown said...

I am trying this on Windows 7 Embedded. It works great when I don't have the Write filter enabled. But as soon as make the image read only, the icons show up but the script no longer works. Any ideas?

Charles said...

I have been using IEnav for a few years and it worked great in win7 with IE8. Just trying to make it work in IE 9, Any ideas?

Charles said...

After some testing I found ienav still works in IE9, just have to enable the command bar