Can’t install ie8 on Server 2003 error ‘LIPPackage’ update.inf

What to do when your Log file shows “Couldn’t read value: ‘LIPPackage’ from [Version] section in update.inf” and Internet Explorer 8 will not install because it thinks your operating system is not supported.

The basics

There are a couple scenarios which will result in you not being able to install Internet Explorer 8. Don’t worry, I have scoured the internet for some answers for you!
First of all, note that this blog entry applies specifically to Windows Server 2003 sp2 32-bit and to upgrading from IE7 to IE8.

Error details for IE8 setup program

The main error is a pop-up when you are trying to install ie8. It says something along the lines of “Your operating system is not supported…” etc etc. That’s not very descriptive, nor true because it IS supported! So, diving into one of the IE8 Log Files (ie8.log and ie8_main.log) you will see the following:

ie8_main.log file from C:\Windows

00:00.015: Started: 2014/01/11 (Y/M/D) 11:40:55.766 (local)
00:00.015: Time Format in this log: MM:ss.mmm (minutes:seconds.milliseconds)
00:00.015: Command line: c:\8892503e92c03588b2\update\iesetup.exe
00:00.015: INFO:    Checking version for c:\8892503e92c03588b2\update\iesetup.exe: 8.0.6001.18702
00:00.156: INFO:    Acquired Package Installer Mutex
00:00.219: INFO:    Operating System: Windows Server: 5.2.3790 (Service Pack 2)
00:00.422: ERROR:   Couldn’t read value: ‘LIPPackage’ from [Version] section in update.inf
00:00.422: ERROR:   Failed to pass system version validation checks.
00:00.422: ERROR:   Message to User: Your operating system is not supported by this setup program
00:01.828: ERROR:   Setup exit code: 0x00000007 (Can’t install on this OS).

First off, your attention is drawn to the line about a LIPPackage, but don’t let that error concern you because nobody on the internet seems to know anything about it AND all the other machines whose logs I checked also showed this error, but installed IE8 just fine anyway.
So next we see that the system version validation checks are failing. But what does that mean?

For me, it indicated that something was wrong with IE7, so I started there. Here is what I did:

• Reset Internet Explorer (Tools–>Internet–>Advanced tab, RESET)
• Uninstalled “Administrative Templates for Internet Explorer 7 for Windows XP SP2 and Windows Server 2003 SP1“
• Reinstalled IE7
• Installed IE8. At the prompt where it asks if you want to install Updates I unchecked the box and allowed the install to proceed.
• Ran Microsoft Update after to pick up any updates for IE8

Hopefully reinstalling 7 and then installing 8 works for you. If not, there are other things you can try…

1. First of all, make sure your system meets the prerequisites. Look them up online if you’re not sure.
2. Try the official MS guide to resolving IE8 install issues: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/949220
3. If that doesn’t work, one or more people online suggested installing .NET and then upgrading IE…

Helpful Links

• IE7 download link: http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/internet-explorer-7-details.aspx
• IE8 download link: http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=20335