Do NOT install IE8 Beta on a production machine!

QP
NOTE: Use beta software at your own risk; it is intended for testing and
evaluation purposes only. Do not install beta software on your primary
computer or production environment.
/QP
Source: Windows Update

A1. Yes. OE6 SP1 running in WinXP SP2 or SP3 is the "end of the line."

A2. I know of few, if any, such negative affects, Jerry.

= Required reading IMHO before installing IE7:

Sandi's Installation Tips = Steps #1-8, #10 & #11; take note of #12, then
STOP!
http://www.ie-vista.com/known_issues.html#pre-install
(ignore any references to Vista)

And I strongly recommend using
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/dow.../getitnow.mspx as the
installation source, not Automatic/Windows Update.

Alternately, use this Direct Download link:
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/d...0-081805b2f90b

Tip: Save the installer to your desktop, do not Run it.

Make *certain* that you check in at Windows Update immediately after
installing IE7 and install any critical updates offered. If Optional
Updates category offers Root Certificates update, I recommend installing it
to take full advantage of IE7's additional security.

About IE7 (and higher) Installation and Anti-Malware Applications
http://blogs.msdn.com/ie/archive/200...lications.aspx

About IE7 (and higher) and Windows XP Service Pack 3
http://blogs.msdn.com/ie/archive/200...and-xpsp3.aspx

What's New in Internet Explorer 7
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms649487.aspx

Release Notes
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/ie/aa740486.aspx
--
~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
MS MVP-IE, Mail, Security, Windows Client - since 2002
AumHa VSOP & Admin http://aumha.net
DTS-L http://dts-l.net/

Jerry wrote:
OE6 is my only email app; and being a web-designer, I've got dozens of
mail-boxes and zillions of email sorting rules. I've been hesitating to
upgrade my IE6 browser because of many issues I see on the internet
regarding issues of IE7 & 8 adversely affecting OE6 performance.

a couple of questions: when you upgrade IE to v 7 or 8, does OE6 still
remain, or is it automatically upgraded to OE7 or 8?

AND .... have the negative effects on OE been fixed with any of the IE7 or
8
updates; meaning, is it yet safe for me to upgrade, since I depend on the
email program quite a bit?

thanks for any news on these concerns ...

Jerry.