Microsoft Denies IE 7 Breaks Yahoo, Google ToolbarsMicrosoft Denies IE 7 Breaks Yahoo, Google Toolbars

Microsoft Corp., on Friday denied Internet rumors that the latest test version of Internet Explorer 7 caused toolbars from rivals Google Inc. and Yahoo Inc. to vanish.

The company said on its Internet Explorer Weblog a bug similar to the one reported on Internet tech sites was found in pre-beta builds of the browser, but the flaw was fixed in the Beta 1 version released Wednesday. In addition, the Redmond, Wash., company said it is working with Yahoo and Google to make sure their software works with IE 7.

"It’s our intent that all toolbars should continue to work well, whether the toolbar was present before the upgrade from IE 6 to IE 7 or if it was installed after IE 7 was installed," wrote Tony Chor on behalf of Microsoft.

The company also denied rumors that it was setting its MSN search engine as the only default search provider in IE. A drop down list in the browser's search box has five search engines, America Online, Ask Jeeves, Google, MSN and Yahoo, Microsoft said. A user can set any of the search engines as the default. In beta 2, Microsoft plans to give IE users the option of choosing other third-party providers.

"We are absolutely committed to working with third parties building on top of Internet Explorer’s functionality, whether it is toolbars or search providers (or anything else for that matter)," Chor said.

Microsoft released the first beta of IE for Windows XP SP2 to a limited group of beta testers, developers and corporate workers. The long-awaited IE revamp won't be available to the general public until Beta 2, which is set for later this year.