After weeks of scratching our heads as to why Microsoft would potentially leave thousands of customers browserless. OEMS would be able to install IE8 via a feature pack on pre-built PCs, but what about those who wanted to purchase a standalone copy of Windows 7E? CNet and Arstechnica originally speculated that Microsoft would offer IE via CD, FTP and retail channels.

But Paul from Geeksmack managed to get a hold of a Windows 7E Build and the feature pack for IE8. Turns out that the feature pack was actually a KB968771 standalone update. He also revealed that IE8 will be offered via a CD that will be bundled with Windows 7E.

In June, Microsoft announced that European copies of Windows 7 will not contain IE8 as a response to the criticism coming from EU antitrust regulators. A browser-less version of edition called Windows 7E will be shipped instead. However, this has forced Microsoft to not allow its customers to perform any in-place upgrades from Vista, which would leave some version of IE on the computer.

Head over to Geeksmack for more screenshots

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. Read the rest at windows7center.com.