After analyzing the reader-submitted reports that we sent in, Microsoft's IE team has provided us with a little more information. In order to help us track down the issue further, as well as receive information about further developments, please read on.

Users have informed us that turning off browser cache has helped a great deal in reducing hanging in Internet Explorer on MacNN pages (both under OS 9 and OS X). Microsoft's team has requested us to collect some further data, however. For users still using the browser cache feature in Internet Explorer (or for users willing to turn it back on for the purposes of this test), we would like to receive reports from you as to whether disabling Java reduces the number of hangs. It is necessary that browser cache be on for this test, and it is also necessary that you only send in an email after using IE on MacNN with Java off for several days. Reports from a shorter period of time are less useful.

Additionally, some readers have noted that hanging is greatly reduced in Mac OS X 10.2 (build 6C115). Although this obviously does not help our readers still using OS 9, reports from users using OS X 10.2 would be useful as well.

When you are ready to send in information about your experiences, please include the following information:

• The number of days you tested for
  
• Operating system version (and build number, if you're using Mac OS X)
  
• Version of Internet Explorer
  
• The conditions under which you tested (for example, testing with Java and browser cache on under Jaguar, testing with browser cache on and Java off under 10.1.5, testing with browser cache and Java off under OS 9, etc.). Please do not test with Java on unless you are running Mac OS X 10.2.
  
• Which sites did you hang on? (www.macnn.com, osx.macnn.com, forums.macnn.com, etc)
  

This is all the information we have so far, but Microsoft has assured us that the previous batch of reports has helped them a great deal in tracking down the problem. Hopefully, too many further tests are not necessary, but we would like to extend our gratitude to our readers for helping us track down this bug. We would also like to thank Microsoft for their ready assistance in this matter.

We look forward to receiving your reports by the beginning of next week or so. Once you are ready to send in your report, please click on the link below and mail it to that address with the subject "MacNN/IE Test 2". Thanks again for your help!

Click here to email your report!

by MacNN Staff