Microsoft Internet Explorer is a web browser. Microsoft Internet Explorer can be run as a Windows Service using FireDaemon Pro, which allows you to have the application start automatically at boot prior to login, start multiple instances of the application and more. This HOWTO will show you how to set it up. You can also use Fusion to manage FireDaemon and other Windows services via a web browser.


Internet Explorer Setup Under FireDaemon Pro

Internet Explorer is included with Windows by default. If you uninstalled it, you will need to reinstall it: From the start menu, click "My Computer". Then at the top below the address bar click "Uninstall or change a program". On the left side click "Turn Windows features on or off" and click the checkmark next to "Internet Explorer".





Microsoft Internet Explorer comes in 2 different versions: 64-bit and 32-bit. Each installs to a different directory so use either directory below depending on what type of Internet Explorer you want to make a service for.

  • 64-bit: C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer
  • 32-bit: C:\Program Files (x86)\Internet Explorer


Start Internet Explorer manually first to generate your profile.


Download and install FireDaemon Pro into the directory of your choice, typically C:\Program Files\FireDaemon.


Next start the FireDaemon GUI from the desktop shortcut. Click on the "Create a new service definition" button in the toolbar (or type Ctrl+N) and enter the information into the fields as you see below. Adjust the paths to suit your installation. Note that no parameters are required.


  • Executable: The path to the iexplore.exe file. For the purposes of this HOWTO, that path is C:\Program Files (x86)\Internet Explorer\iexplore.exe.
  • Working Directory: The directory containing the iexplore.exe file. For the purposes of this HOWTO, that path is C:\Program Files (x86)\Internet Explorer.
  • Parameters: No parameters are required. Leave this field blank.


Now click on the Settings tab. If you DON'T want to see Microsoft Internet Explorer running, uncheck the Interact with Desktop check box & select “Hidden” from the “Show Window” dropdown. You must run Microsoft Internet Explorer as the user you installed it as. In the Logon Account field type your username (e.g. Administrator) and then enter the user's password twice in the Password and Confirm fields. You can change the Process Priority to allocate more CPU time to Internet Explorer or specify which CPU or core Internet Explorer will run on (in the case of multi-processor, hyperthreaded or multi-core CPUs). You must change the "Job Type" to "Global Job", otherwise when Microsoft Internet Explorer is restarted, the child processes will not be terminated properly.


Now click on the Lifecycle tab. Uncheck Graceful Shutdown as leaving it checked might delay the shutdown of Microsoft Internet Explorer.


Now click on the OK button to install and start Microsoft Internet Explorer!