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[HACK] Flash on Any Website in IE10 Metro Browser [WIN 8 & WIN RT]

Dear all,
As we all know Windows RT/8's IE Metro browser has limited flash support based on a whitelist. However a lot of sites are not (yet) whitelisted and hence do not work as desired. So I did some digging in the whitelist mechanism and found a way to hack it.
Be sure to follow the following steps in respective order:
Open Desktop IE10 type ALT --> Tools --> Compatibility View settings. Now UNCHECK the last checkmark which says: "Download updated compatibility list from Microsoft". If you have done this, you will be able to locally change the whitelist without getting overridden.
WARNING: If this checkbox is checked IE will override your custom whitelist back to default on each rebout, so be sure to uncheck it..
The whitelist is named "iecompatdata.xml" and is located in this path (copy + paste in File Explorer or IE10)
Code:
%HOMEPATH%\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\IECompatData\
(Alternatively open File Explorer and search in C:\ for "iecompatdata")
As suggested by danchar4, you can open and edit this file directly with Notepad by pressing WIN + R and type:
Code:
notepad "%HOMEPATH%\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\IECompatData\iecompatdata.xml"
All whitelisted flash enabled websites are located in this file inbetween the following tags:
Code:
<Flash>
[...]
<domain>zumiez.com</domain>
<domain>zynga.com</domain>
</Flash>
To add a website to the whitelist, all you do is add your desired website inside these tags as follows:
Code:
<domain>YOURDESIREDDOMAIN.COM</domain>
Add as many websites as you desire...
Now we are almost done, one last task is to delete browsing histroy. Open IE10 Metro and click WIN+I (to open settings) --> Internet Options —> Delete browsing history
And you are all set and done. Flash is now enabled in IE10 Metro for the websites you have added to the whitelist!
Of course as with any hack, attempt only at your own risk. I am not responsible in case faulty behaviour occurs... That said, it should be fine
Kind regards,
Marvin

Trouble shooting + faq
TROUBLE SHOOTING + FAQ
I tried to do these steps but it does not work on www.website.com...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If the flash content is embedded as an iframe, be sure to also add the domain of the source of the flash content. E.g. be sure to also add the website where the iframe links to to the whitelisted sources, this is what will eventually determine whether flash will be activated or not for this website.
Does this method work for www.website.com?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If 'website.com' uses a standard flash plugin (e.g. if you can view the flash content on a normal desktop with just the standard adobe flash player plugin) it will work with this method. All this method does is activating the built in flash plugin for any website you have added to the whitelist.
I can not find the file "iecompatdata.xml"
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you can't find this file be sure to enable "show hidden files", this folder will show up now. Alternatively you can find it by searching C:\ for the query "iecompatdata", the file will now show up.
I have added www.website.com to the whitelist, but it does not work!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Be sure to delete your browsing history and refresh the page. If it does not work now, please be sure to check if you have added the website correctly (e.g. within <domain> tags).
After I have rebooted my computer, I have lost my custom whitelist!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Make sure you have UNCHECKED the last checkmark in "Compatibility View settings" which says: "Download updated compatibility list from Microsoft". If you have done this, you will be able to locally change the whitelist without IE overriding it automatically.

Marvin_S said:
After more thorough testing, I found that a domain with a wildcard will not work i.e.
Code:
<domain>*.com</domain>
Does not allow flash to work on all .com sites... so this solution is out of the window, unless somebody knows if a wildcard in this list is supplied differently. I could not find anything in the documentation regarding the use of wildcards in this list, so most likely its not supported.
Alternatively, we could create some kind of "community" maintained whitelist, where anybody can just add any website and we will then point IE10 to download a whitelist from this community maintained source (instead of from Microsoft).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks so much for this work. I remember u from ur past work on wp7/7.5 on here. Thanks again. I almost called MS lite to return my surface because of this stupidity. Are they like apple or what? Trying to decide what u can do and what u can't is a v.stupid idea and whoever decided this at MS should be fired. If I wanted a prison garden, I'd buy an iPad.
---------- Post added at 12:43 PM ---------- Previous post was at 12:34 PM ----------
Now if I can find an easy way to block the ads ill be really happy. These ads are so invading. I didn't realize how much firefox with adblock was until I had to us IE for the last 3 days. quite annoying as it makes content loading so slow.

xirsteon said:
Thanks so much for this work. I remember u from ur past work on wp7/7.5 on here. Thanks again. I almost called MS lite to return my surface because of this stupidity. Are they like apple or what? Trying to decide what u can do and what u can't is a v.stupid idea and whoever decided this at MS should be fired. If I wanted a prison garden, I'd buy an iPad.
---------- Post added at 12:43 PM ---------- Previous post was at 12:34 PM ----------
Now if I can find an easy way to block the ads ill be really happy. These ads are so invading. I didn't realize how much firefox with adblock was until I had to us IE for the last 3 days. quite annoying as it makes content loading so slow.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Your welcome. Glad it was helpful, yes I have been less active due to obligations at the univerisity. If we find a better solution we will let you know.
Some kind of adblocker is also integrated in Internet Explorer. Go to Manage add-ons and then to Tracking Protection. Now download a couple of adblock lists. It is not as good as chrome/ff, but it gets the job done for the most part!
And take some time to get used to your new machine, its a beautiful device and only yet people are starting to explore it and develop for it. It will for sure be a highly demanded device and will most likely reach a lot of developer/hacker interest.

xirsteon said:
Are they like apple or what? Trying to decide what u can do and what u can't is a v.stupid idea and whoever decided this at MS should be fired. If I wanted a prison garden, I'd buy an iPad
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The restriction against other browsers is equally disturbing.
See here: http://news.cnet.com/8301-1001_3-57431236-92/microsoft-bans-firefox-on-arm-based-windows-mozilla-says/
Even Google, who loves to push their own brand name through Chrome, saw the wisdom of allowing the customer freedom.
Lets not forget what, in large part, created Android's success - people jumped ship from Apple because they saw Android as an OS that allowed the consumer as much or as little customization as you want - you want it simple - they present a good out of box experience - you want something more, you can make changes.
We don't need two walled gardens.

Eh, that's just the restriction against third-party desktop apps. Mozilla even acknowledges that they could build a Windows Store app, and in fact they're apparently doing that (http://news.cnet.com/8301-30685_3-57376421-264/coming-in-2012-firefox-for-windows-8s-metro/)... just for some reason they're doing it only for x86. Since Store apps, even for RT, are allowed to use native C/C++ and the compiler supports building them for ARM, I'm really not sure why they don't just recompile it for RT. Yeah, their JavaScript JIT would need to be changed, but they already have a JIT for ARM don't they? That's equally relevant for Firefox on RT in the Desktop or in "Metro" anyhow, so it would be a stupid thing to complain about. In any case, they could just fall back to interpreted JS.

Installed Chrome Browser
GoodDayToDie said:
Eh, that's just the restriction against third-party desktop apps. Mozilla even acknowledges that they could build a Windows Store app, and in fact they're apparently doing that (http://news.cnet.com/8301-30685_3-57376421-264/coming-in-2012-firefox-for-windows-8s-metro/)... just for some reason they're doing it only for x86. Since Store apps, even for RT, are allowed to use native C/C++ and the compiler supports building them for ARM, I'm really not sure why they don't just recompile it for RT. Yeah, their JavaScript JIT would need to be changed, but they already have a JIT for ARM don't they? That's equally relevant for Firefox on RT in the Desktop or in "Metro" anyhow, so it would be a stupid thing to complain about. In any case, they could just fall back to interpreted JS.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I am not sure if this adds anything to the discussion. I don't own a Windows RT machine, but I was in Office Depot the other day looking at their devices. They had a Samsung ATIV Smart PC on display. So, I messed around with if for a while. I had read that other browsers were forbidden on the RT. I thought, I wonder if Google Chrome will run? So I installed it off the internet and it worked.
My question is this: Is it just the MS RT the locks itself down? Why did the Samsung allow me to D/L and install Chrome?

davehries said:
My question is this: Is it just the MS RT the locks itself down? Why did the Samsung allow me to D/L and install Chrome?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
the software restrictions should be the same, the other limitation is that you can't just download x86 software and install it on the RT because x86 doesn't run on ARM processors, are you absolutely certain you were on an ATIV tab running Windows RT or just a samsung tablet running Windows 8 with an x86 processor? If it was already possible to install chrome on Windows RT it'd be all over the internet.

davehries said:
I am not sure if this adds anything to the discussion. I don't own a Windows RT machine, but I was in Office Depot the other day looking at their devices. They had a Samsung ATIV Smart PC on display. So, I messed around with if for a while. I had read that other browsers were forbidden on the RT. I thought, I wonder if Google Chrome will run? So I installed it off the internet and it worked.
My question is this: Is it just the MS RT the locks itself down? Why did the Samsung allow me to D/L and install Chrome?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
it's the samsung smart PC running on x86 hardware? (clovertrail or i5) if it is, then it's running full windows 8 and you can install any legacy apps (like chrome/ff) to your hearts content.
not to go off topic too much, but as to the earlier comment about freedom and choice being the reason android gained so much marketshare so fast. it has more to do with the combination of cheap handsets and carrier penetration, at a time when the iphone was locked to one network in the US and blackberry was slowly falling out of the consumer mindshare. yes, people like us who frequent xda might have moved to it because of the openness of the platform, but the mainstream market really doesn't care about that.

Guys, we are wandering too far off topic. I appreciate the discussion, but please let it be (somehow) related to ways of enabling flash on IE10 on Win RT and 8. The limitations of Windows RT are better to be discussed in appropriate threads
Did anybody do an experiment with this compatibility list? Or tried to deactivate it in its entire? A systems admin or IT pro might no some more details on this?

Marvin_S said:
Guys, we are wandering too far off topic. I appreciate the discussion, but please let it be (somehow) related to ways of enabling flash on IE10 on Win RT and 8. The limitations of Windows RT are better to be discussed in appropriate threads
Did anybody do an experiment with this compatibility list? Or tried to deactivate it in its entire? A systems admin or IT pro might no some more details on this?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I added several websites and it worked fine. I'm a bit bummed as I think MS will find a way to over write the xml file in a masquerade windows update. As far as deactivation is concerned, I thought about making a backup of the xml file, and completely deleting the original to see if it works at all. What do u think?

xirsteon said:
I added several websites and it worked fine. I'm a bit bummed as I think MS will find a way to over write the xml file in a masquerade windows update. As far as deactivation is concerned, I thought about making a backup of the xml file, and completely deleting the original to see if it works at all. What do u think?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It might work, but I assume it will just deactivate compatibility view in its entire and hence disable flash for all sites. But its worth the try Let me know if it works!

Marvin_S said:
It might work, but I assume it will just deactivate compatibility view in its entire and hence disable flash for all sites. But its worth the try Let me know if it works!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well I created a local account to test this. Backup the file and deleted the original. All the blacklisted sites didn't work. So its not 100% possible yet but I bet there's a reg option or even a security policy (secpol.msc) that will turn this check off completely. Perhaps a bit of poke around will yield some insights. I looked in secpol and didn't find anything. So that leaves the registry up for grabs unless they're pulling that wp hidden / reg lock down thing.

xirsteon said:
Well I created a local account to test this. Backup the file and deleted the original. All the blacklisted sites didn't work. So its not 100% possible yet but I bet there's a reg option or even a security policy (secpol.msc) that will turn this check off completely. Perhaps a bit of poke around will yield some insights. I looked in secpol and didn't find anything. So that leaves the registry up for grabs unless they're pulling that wp hidden / reg lock down thing.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i bet its hidden, since if you want to add a developer website to test flash on you will have to create a reg key in a non existing folder in the ie registry settings called FLASH, so I guess thats the hidden folder. But I wonder if it is possible to somehow trace these folders. I personally dont know anything about the entire mechanism behind the comapibility view. I just discovered it by accident by figuring out where the whitelist was located. So far it seems that it does not take wildcards for domains and also shutting down the list in its entire does not seem to work. We can try to add a 'blank' domain but I doubt it will work.

Doesn't work for me
I am doing just as instructed. I do not know why it doesn't for me. I tried movie2k.to and myp2p, ibliz. None of them work

Marvin_S said:
It might work, but I assume it will just deactivate compatibility view in its entire and hence disable flash for all sites. But its worth the try Let me know if it works!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
More likely is that it will download the default list, or the current list. I don't really see compatibility view as an issue. What you are getting is the ability to use the major Flash-enabled sites without any of the ad sites, built-in as opposed to using third-party solutions.

mechmouni said:
I am doing just as instructed. I do not know why it doesn't for me. I tried movie2k.to and myp2p, ibliz. None of them work
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Make sure you follow each step correctly. It has been tested and confirmed working by lots of people, on both Windows RT and Windows 8. Make sure you delete browsing history.

Marvin_S said:
Alternatively, we could create some kind of "community" maintained whitelist, where anybody can just add any website and we will then point IE10 to download a whitelist from this community maintained source (instead of from Microsoft).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Here you can add sites: http://minecraft.digiex.org/flash/
And here is the list itself: http://minecraft.digiex.org/flash/iecompatviewlist.xml
Working with Nuduaa on a auto downloader script to autoupdate it every now and then on the surface.

jessenic said:
Here you can add sites: http://minecraft.digiex.org/flash/
And here is the list itself: http://minecraft.digiex.org/flash/iecompatviewlist.xml
Working with Nuduaa on a auto downloader script to autoupdate it every now and then on the surface.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Awesome! Now I just have to wait for MS to ship me a damn Surface
If it is done (and there is some automation) I will add it to the first post!
Thank you for maintaining the list. This is great guys... good work!
Does anybody know if Windows RT allows the creation of custom extensions?

help
I am following the steps yet I can't find the place in c drive as described on my surface.

Flash on Windows RT

Hi all
I bought the Asus Vivo Tab which has Windows RT on it. I'm aware that Windows RT / 8 Have the white-list functionality inbuilt into IE.
I've amended the iecompatdata.xml file so I could add my own sites and that has worked fine for a number of sites that weren't on the white-list yet.
My question relates to running facebook games on Windows RT. In the list, I put in URL's for certain direct facebook games (e.g. apps.facebook.com/gardensoftime ) . However, this didn't work when I put this exact URL into the .xml file and still has the adobe flash error requiring 10.0 or higher (even though Windows RT comes with 11 + ).
Could you help on:
Is it possible to put in direct links to facebook apps into xml file and them to work?
Is there any other way to view/utilise the facebook apps on the website?
Apart from waiting for the app to hit the microsoft store - is thre any other way to access them?
Thanks a lot for your help!

Flash
Doesn't Win8 RT have the desktop IE 10 app as well? In the desktop version, you can manually disable ActiveX filtering on a per site basis.

^^1(2050]=7 1337 said:
Doesn't Win8 RT have the desktop IE 10 app as well? In the desktop version, you can manually disable ActiveX filtering on a per site basis.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That doesn't help it either. It's not ActiveX Filtering that's stopping it - I'm not sure what it is.
Some games work and some don't. A lot of the playdom games don't work (this isn't for me, it's for my mother and I'mt rying to get them working for her).
apps.facebook.com/gardensoftime or apps.facebook.com/blackwoodandbell
If you go to either of those, where the game shows up, it says, Adobe 10.0 or higher is required. I've set the compatibility listing, and there's no other pop up related to it so I'm unsure as to why it won't load up. And I can only use IE because.. windows rt. etc.
Any other advice?

viconia said:
That doesn't help it either. It's not ActiveX Filtering that's stopping it - I'm not sure what it is.
Some games work and some don't. A lot of the playdom games don't work (this isn't for me, it's for my mother and I'mt rying to get them working for her).
apps.facebook.com/gardensoftime or apps.facebook.com/blackwoodandbell
If you go to either of those, where the game shows up, it says, Adobe 10.0 or higher is required. I've set the compatibility listing, and there's no other pop up related to it so I'm unsure as to why it won't load up. And I can only use IE because.. windows rt. etc.
Any other advice?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
did you solved this issue???I have the same problem...

The future of Flash

I know there is a lot of gripe about the White list of what websites are allowed to use flash. I don't have a lot of knowledge on the topic so I wanted to fish around a bit for some information and pose some questions.
-Is it always going to be like this? Is it likely that they will release someway for users to control their own flash preferences?
-Is it likely that a 3rd party will release something that will allow a setting like this?
- [Edit] If more support for Flash is to be forthcoming, what would one expect the timeline to be? How long would it take? [I know this will mostly be speculation ]
- [EDIT] if firefox or chrome were developed for it, would they have to run off of the whitelist as well?
-As someone who hasn't touched windows 8 full, does the full OS have a similar flash limitation?
Also if this is the wrong place for this I am terribly sorry and will move the thread where ever it goes.

adashofrainbow said:
I know there is a lot of gripe about the White list of what websites are allowed to use flash. I don't have a lot of knowledge on the topic so I wanted to fish around a bit for some information and pose some questions.
-Is it always going to be like this? Is it likely that they will release someway for users to control their own flash preferences?
-Is it likely that a 3rd party will release something that will allow a setting like this?
-As someone who hasn't touched windows 8 full, does the full OS have a similar flash limitation?
Also if this is the wrong place for this I am terribly sorry and will move the thread where ever it goes.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hello
I don't think it will always be like this. I think someone may create a tool that automatically adds websites or simplify the process for us. Or we may even have a list that the community creates and we could possibly set our browser to auto download the list via options or script or 3rd party software. That being said, I do not think full windows will have the same flash limitation..at least not in desktop mode, because they can install whatever windows app they choose. It's an awesome device nonetheless.

equisbox said:
Hello
I don't think it will always be like this. I think someone may create a tool that automatically adds websites or simplify the process for us. Or we may even have a list that the community creates and we could possibly set our browser to auto download the list via options or script or 3rd party software. That being said, I do not think full windows will have the same flash limitation..at least not in desktop mode, because they can install whatever windows app they choose. It's an awesome device nonetheless.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There is no doubt that I am enjoying my new toy. However I really enjoy certain facebook games, like Marvel Avenger's and Draw something, but unfortunately the flash support of Facebook doesn't extend to these. I got this to replace my laptop, it's unfortunate that I can't play these on the go any more. I suppose a time line for flash support would be another question I have.

laptop replacement...I think the surface pro is probably a better option for laptop replacement than the RT. Unless of course you only do light amount of things on your laptop, and do not care about not being able to install 'regular' windows applications such as Photoshop. Even then you could remote desktop into your PC and use those applications, Some people have reported very good results using remote desktop on the surface, but I have yet to try it or myself. Don't get me wrong though, the surface RT is a very powerful device and a lot better then android and ipad as far as productivity IMO. We are just little behind on the number of applications, and even then you could argue that most android and apple apps are useless. Nonetheless, the do have us beat by the numbers. We get a real high quality app right out the box - Office.
I was at a crossroads before I purchased my Surface. I love androids and I couldn't decide between RT or android tablet. I played with the Surface and I feel in love, Whereas the android tablet would have been just like having a bigger phone. There's not much I could do in an Android tablet that I couldn't do on my Samsung Galaxy S3.
I also though I wanted the Surface PRO at first, but upon further research, I came to the conclusion that RT was the right choice. I wanted a Tablet that can do light PC related tasks, not a full mini laptop - I have a DELL XPS 15 and multiple desktops for any 'serious' work I may need to do. The pro will probably get HOT and windy and noisy due to the fans as well. I think a lot of people who purchase the pro may end up returning it and getting a RT because I do not think the PRO will functions completely like a tablet. I may be wrong but I guess only time will tell.
I love this thing.

To answer some questions:
Win8 (x86/x64) includes the whitelist in its iecompatdata.xml file, but doesn't "respect" it (i.e. all Flash sites work).
While an official tool to control Flash usage is quite possible, don't hold your breath. A few unofficial tools already exist, but tend to be a bit limited and/or cumbersome to use (I'm working on an improved one myself).
A Windows Store app, even if it could get approved, probably wouldn't work for most people; the relevant file is outside the app sandbox, so the user would have to manually grant permission to access it.
For Facebook games (or other places where an external video is embedded manually), try adding the domain of the Flash file itself (usually found in an OBJECT tag, with an extension like ".flv"). For example, if the Flash file comes from "http://flash.facebook-games.com/IMaedAGaem/flashgame.flv", you should try adding "facebook-games.com" to the whitelist. You can try using my old scripts (working on updates for them) for this, although I can't promise they'll work in that case (haven't ever tried). The link is in my signature.

GoodDayToDie said:
To answer some questions:
Win8 (x86/x64) includes the whitelist in its iecompatdata.xml file, but doesn't "respect" it (i.e. all Flash sites work).
While an official tool to control Flash usage is quite possible, don't hold your breath. A few unofficial tools already exist, but tend to be a bit limited and/or cumbersome to use (I'm working on an improved one myself).
A Windows Store app, even if it could get approved, probably wouldn't work for most people; the relevant file is outside the app sandbox, so the user would have to manually grant permission to access it.
For Facebook games (or other places where an external video is embedded manually), try adding the domain of the Flash file itself (usually found in an OBJECT tag, with an extension like ".flv"). For example, if the Flash file comes from "http://flash.facebook-games.com/IMaedAGaem/flashgame.flv", you should try adding "facebook-games.com" to the whitelist. You can try using my old scripts (working on updates for them) for this, although I can't promise they'll work in that case (haven't ever tried). The link is in my signature.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So what's the real hope? That more websites get whitelisted?

adashofrainbow said:
So what's the real hope? That more websites get whitelisted?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That, or that Microsoft discontinue the whitelist

you do understand that you can easily add to the whitelist yourself right?

mmian said:
you do understand that you can easily add to the whitelist yourself right?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, but it would be nice to not have to. And I'm not always 100% successful

LINKS and MENUS That Do Not Open in the Desktop Browser...

....thought it would be a good idea for us to begin posting examples of unresponsive links, pop-ups and menus that would normally otherwise work on Full Windows versions.
Hopefully others can confirm whether or not they work on their Surface RTs, and some of the more tech-savvy members can check out the links and we can find some permanent fixes to them!
Getting started....
1) http://autoauctions.gsa.gov/autoauctions/AuctionHouseDetail.seam?linkAuctionHouse=Sparkling+City+AA+San+Antonio&linkAddressCode=I7003#
Click on the day (Tuesday) on the right, then click on any car. A picture of the car and its bio should pop-up. I have not been able to do so on a Surface.
2) http://www.greyhound.com/express/
Try choosing a region. I've found the menus to be inoperable.
Windows not wanting competing browsers magnifies this issue,...so if you notice the same, please reply.

Hulu doesn't work on desktop or metro ie. Any menu's built with hover are an issue.

www.wallstreetsurvivor.com/dashboard If you have an account, the site is practically unusable. Their "custom" dropdowns don't show. They show on every browser, the iPad, etc., internet explorer on everything but Windows RT.

cx1 said:
Hulu doesn't work on desktop or metro ie. Any menu's built with hover are an issue.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have IE set to open everything in the desktop mode and Hulu works fine. All menus work, the videos play.

drowe said:
I have IE set to open everything in the desktop mode and Hulu works fine. All menus work, the videos play.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
We are speaking about using touch not using the touch cover or other input device. If the web menus are built using the hover function they do not work with touch.

... "we" are? I see a thread about differences between Windows RT and "full" versions, not a thread about differences between touch and other inputs. You can use touch with "full" Windows (there have existed touch-based Windows tablets for years, before NT was ever ported to ARM), and you can use a conventional pointing device (USB mouse, Bluetooth mouse, Touch/Type cover trackpad, voice-controlled mouse movement, etc.) with Windows RT.

[Q] Need an android substitute for IE

My job requires company access to an intranet site that requires IE for access. Their solution for mobile needs is to haul an IE-equipped laptop around, but I obviously would rather connect in the field with my tablet via VPN.
All the solutions I've found via searching online have ranged from "you can't do that" to a virtual desktop that's way out of reach for in individual user. And due to the way the sites are built, only IE will work. This is not about choosing a different browser.
So does anybody know if any work is being done for those of us needing to use/emulate IE on our tablets? I know from my google searches that this is a common problem, so hopefully somebody is working on it.

I think that the only thing you can do is to have a laptop or a desktop at home with IE and access it through something like Splashtop.
You can also enable Wake-on-Lan on that PC so that it can stay off and it turns on only when you need it.

Check out Opera. I'm not sure about the Android version, but the desktop versions allow you to change the user agent (a string included with every page request that includes the OS you are using, browser, browser version, rendering engine, etc.) so that it looks to other websites like you're using IE. I'm pretty sure Dolphin also has this, and I know that there is an extension for Firefox that can do this, too. Whether or not it will work in your case, I can't guarantee, but it's worth a shot.

Solution!
The "desktop user agent" in the Dolphin browser app did the trick. Thanks to those who replied with suggestions.