Problems viewing sites in IE 7? Download this

Even though IE 7 is just days from going gold, there are still a number of Web sites and applications out there that don't work right with it.

Microsoft identifies these sites as "problematic" and in need of updating (a characterization that doesn't endear the Softies to some of the more standards-compliant site owners out there, who say it's IE 7 that is breaking their wares, and not vice versa).

Blame aside, what can users do who still need IE 6 to view certain sites and apps, but are unable to run it simultaneously with IE 7 on their systems, given that IE 7 overwrites IE 6?

Microsoft's User Agent String Utility Version 2 may be just the ticket. The applet temporarily tricks IE 7 into behaving like IE 6. User Agent String, the latest release of which Microsoft posted to its download site in mid-September, is a "utility that opens an Internet Explorer 7.0 window that is configured to report its identity to websites as being Internet Explorer 6.0," according to Microsoft's description.

The download is freely available for XP and Windows Server 2003 systems. It does require users to submit to Windows Genuine Advantage (WGA) checks before downloading.