Web Browsers within MD10

The Windows 10 Managed Desktop currently has three browsers available, which are:

Microsoft are about to release an updated version of Edge that is called Edge Chromium and which will replace the current Microsoft Edge at some point in the future.

Microsoft Edge and Internet Explorer are installed as part or the Operating System install. These are updated by Microsoft during the monthly security updates.
We deploy Google Chrome and keep it updated with new releases.

All three browsers are available from the Windows 10 Start Menu.

Microsoft Edge

Microsoft Edge is the latest web browser from Microsoft and is the default browser within Windows 10.

The icon looks very similar to the Internet Explorer icon and does confuse users. Edge is the first icon on the Taskbar.

Edge Favorites
Edge will not use the same Favorites as Internet Explorer or Chrome, and Favorites won’t transfer between sessions unfortunately.
It is possible to import your Internet Explorer Favorites and Chrome Bookmarks in to Edge.
To do this:

  1. Open Internet Explorer to check that they are there
  2. Back in Edge, click on the … 3 dots in the top right of the screen
  3. Select “Settings”
  4. Under the heading “Import favourites and other info” click on “Import from another browser”
  5. Ensure “Internet Explorer” is selected then click on “Import”
  6. Your favourites are found by clicking the icon, the imported ones being within a folder called “Imported from Internet Explorer”.
  7. You can drag the ones you want on the favourites bar into the “Favourites Bar” folder.

Issues with Edge
Some web pages will not work with Edge if they require specific add-ins, such as ActiveX.

If this is an issue then please use Internet Explorer and contact DTS as we can force these web pages to open in Internet Explorer rather than Edge automatically.

Internet Explorer

Internet Explorer is available within MD10 in order to use web sites and services that do not work with Edge.

This browser will use the same Favorites as Internet Explorer within the Windows 7 Managed Desktop.

Google Chrome

Google Chrome is installed by us as a third browser. This is the best browser to use for accessing Blackboard due to issues with the other two browsers.

Chrome Settings
Chrome settings and Bookmarks will not automatically transfer between sessions on different workstations, but you can easily login to your SHU Google account which will transfer all your settings.

This is documented here:
Transferring your Google Chrome Settings

Microsoft Edge Chromium

Microsoft are scheduled to release a new browser on 15 January 2020 known as Edge Chromium that will replace the existing Microsoft Edge at some point.

This new browser is built using Chromium and is essential very similar to Google Chrome, with a few Microsoft alterations.

Transferring settings between sessions
One of the benefits of using Edge Chromium is that it will transfer settings between sessions if the user logs in to the browser using their SHU Microsoft account.

At present the browser will automatically login using their AD account, so SHU\ab1234 rather than ab1234@hallam.shu.ac.uk and settings are not automatically transferred.
This has been reported as an issue to Microsoft.

In order to login with with your Microsoft account do the following:

  1. Select the button that looks like a body in the top right
  2. Select ‘Add a Profile’, then select the Add button.
  3. Note that this will close the process so return again to the button used in Step 1
  4. There will be a profile called ‘Profile 1’, select Sign In button
  5. Select the ‘Workplace or school account’ option then continue
  6. Sign in using your account ab1234@hallam.shu.ac.uk
  7. Authenticate your SHU account by entering your password
  8. Untick ‘Allow my organisation to manage my device’
  9. You might get a error about ‘Something went wrong’, just ignore this
  10. You should be presented with a box to Sync your profile, select Sync
  11. Any previously saved Favorites will appear within the Browser and settings will sync
  12. If this is the first time you have done this you can import Favorites from IE or Google Chrome

Importing IE Favorites
To import IE Favorites do the following:

  1. Select the button that looks like a body in the top right
  2. Select the profile you wish to import the Favorites in to and then select ‘Manage
  3. Select ‘Import browser data’
  4. Ensure ‘Microsoft Internet Explorer’ is selected in the box
  5. Unselect any items you don’t wish to import, then select the Import button

Importing Chrome Bookmarks
In order to import Chrome Bookmarks requires either Chrome to have been opened or the existing Chrome bookmarks to be exported as a HTML file first.
To export Bookmarks as a file follow the instructions here:
How to Export Bookmarks from Chrome

To import Chrome Bookmarks do the following:

  1. Select the button that looks like a body in the top right
  2. Select the profile you wish to import the Favorites in to and then select ‘Manage
  3. Select ‘Import browser data’ and use either step 4 or step 5
  4. Ensure ‘Google Chrome’ is selected in the box
    1. Select the Chrome Profile you wish to import Bookmarks from
  5. Ensure ‘Favorites or Bookmarks HTML file’ is selected
    1. Browse to the location of the HTML file and select Open
  6. Unselect any items you don’t wish to import, then select the Import button

IE Mode Support
Edge Chromium has support for IE Mode that will allow specified web pages or sites that require IE to open the page as a new tab within Edge Chromium.These sites needs to be specified in a control panel.

When a page that requires IE Mode is opened an IE icon is added to the toolbar.

Testing the Beta within DTS
DTS staff can install the latest Beta on their MD10 workstation via the Software Center.
We have applied Group Policy settings so that match the existing policy settings used by Chrome.
After installation there will be a desktop shortcut for the Edge Beta.