Still running a Windows Server 2003 server in your organization and want to control IE11 settings and features across your PC collection?
Microsoft has now released the Administrative Templates for IE11 management. Because IE11 is not supported for installation on Windows Server 2003, these templates must be manually imported. After they are imported, admins can manage IE11 settings through GPO.
Truth told, if an organization is still running Windows Server 2003, there's a good chance that IE11 isn't an option, considering that Windows XP is probably still running on the majority of desktops. But, it's nice for Microsoft to provide the option.
Here's the download: Administrative Templates for Internet Explorer 11
Note that Windows Server 2012 R2 comes with the Administrative Template files already installed. The files are automatically installed on Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1 after installing IE11 on the server and are located in the %WINDIR%\inf\ directory.
To install the download on Windows Server 2003, do this:
- Copy the downloaded inetres.adm file into the %WINDIR%\inf\ directory.
- Run the Group Policy Editor and navigate to Computer Policy – Computer Configuration.
- Right-click on Administrative Templates and choose Add/Remove Templates from the menu.
- Select the Add button, locate Inetres.adm you copied into the %WINDIR%\inf\ directory earlier, and click Open to complete the import.
P.S. If you see Inetres already in the list, Remove it before adding the new one. (The new download includes settings for all older Internet Explorer versions including the new IE11)
