Microsoft Internet Explorer 5 (abbreviated IE5) is a graphical web browser released in March 1999 by Microsoft, primarily for Microsoft Windows, but initially with versions available for Apple Macintosh, Sun Solaris, and HP-UX. (See also Internet Explorer for Mac or for Unix.) It was one of the main participants of the first Browser war. Its distribution methods and Windows integration were involved in United States v. Microsoft. It was superseded by Microsoft Internet Explorer 6 in August 2001, although IE5.x remains the last version for Windows 3.1x, Windows NT 3.x, and Windows 95. Version 5.0 was included with Windows 98 Second Edition (using the Trident II layout), and 5.5 with Windows Me (Trident III) when they were introduced. The Mac edition came out in 2000 and was included with Mac OS X, and the Tasman layout engine. IE5 presided over a large market share increase over Netscape Navigator between 1999 and 2001, and offered many advanced features for its day. In addition, it was compatible with largest range of OS of all the IE versions. However, support for many OS quickly dropped off with later patches, and Windows XP and later Windows versions are not supported, because of inclusion of later IE versions. The 1999 review in PC World noted, "Credit the never-ending game of browser one-upsmanship that Netscape and Microsoft play. The new IE 5 trumps Netscape Communicator with smarter searching and accelerated browsing." Internet Explorer 5 attained over 50% market share by early 2000, taking the lead over other browser versions including IE4 and Netscape. 5.x versions attained over 80% market share by the release of IE6 in August 2001. 5.0x and 5.5 were surpassed by Internet Explorer 6.0, dropping it to the second most popular browser, with market share dropping to 34 percent by mid 2003. In addition, by early 2005 Firefox 1.0 had overtaken it in market share. Version 5.x market share fell below 1% by the end of 2006. Microsoft spent over 100 million dollars (USD) a year in the late 1990s, with over 1000 people working on IE by 1999 during the development of IE5. Internet Explorer 5.x rendering behavior lives on in other browsers' quirks modes. Internet Explorer 5 is no longer available for download from Microsoft. However, archive 16- and 32-bit versions are legally and publically available from Evolt.org. These include Internet Explorer 5.01 (16-bit only), Internet Explorer 5.0 (32-bit), Internet Explorer 5.01 (32-bit), Internet Explorer 5.01 Service Pack 2 (32-bit), Internet Explorer 5.5 (32-bit), Internet Explorer 5.5 Service Pack 1 (32-bit), Internet Explorer 5.5 Service Pack 2, and Internet Explorer 5.5 Service Pack 2 (NT only).

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