IE 8 Developer Tools not working In Windows?

Question

I am using Internet Explorer 8, not by choice. I need to debug a script in it. However, no matter how many times I click the Developer Tools Icon, under Tools or click F12 it will not show up. Sometimes, I can see that it is minimized in the taskbar but when I actually go to click it. It will not show up...

Does anyone know how to get it to work or what the problem is? I tried updating restarting killing all the processes with no luck.

Answer 1

I did the following:

1. Right click on developer tools in the task bar,
2. Select Maximize,
3. Pin the window to Internet Explorer (Ctrl + P)
4. Then it should appear in IE.
5. Select the restore button to unpin.

I really hope someone got fired for that.

Answer 2

I've never heard of a problem like this before, but if I had to guess, I'd guess that the tools might be pushed off the edge of the screen? If you click on the task bar item, hit alt+space, then m, do you get the "move" cursor?

Answer 3

1. F12 (key for developer tools)
2. alt + space + x (Maximize windows)
3. click in top name bar and move window

Answer 4

This is a known issue of IE8. If you minimize the debugger tool window and close the IE. Next time you open the debugger tool window, it will memeorize it's minimized state. So you won't see it except an icon on the task bar.

Solution: Hover you mouse over the debugger tool icon on the task bar for a while, when a window pops up for the icon, right click the window and choose the Maximize from the context menu.

Answer 5

Tip worked unexpectedly well! I have dual monitors on my Windows XP Pro machine, and was experimenting with a third when it happened. I also remote into the computer using LogMeIn (not sure if it would cause a problem).

Alt + Space, then closed the program, and it restarted it in the default frame under the IE page with F12. Guess the developer of the toolbar missed out on it, although is IE 8 still in Beta? Otherwise, it isn't a bad debugger, though firebug works better for me in most instances.

Answer 6

If your Debug Tools are at the top left of the screen and you can't move them, you can also 1.

1. Open regedit
2. Navigate to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\IEDevTools
3. Delete the window position entry.