Solving the “This Web Browser Does Not Support the Generation of Certificate Requests” Error

This is one of those little nagging things that bugs me mind all the time. Who at Microsoft was responsible for not doing their job correctly? Of course, there are probably a billion and one excuses, but the following fact is simple: When you use Microsoft Windows 8 or Windows Server 2012 (or you’re using Windows 7/Windows Server 2008 R2 with Internet Explorer 10) and you try to install a certificate from Microsoft Active Directory Certificate Services (AD-CS) using the Web Enrollment website, you will see the error message: “This Web browser does not support the generation of certificate requests.”

How to Fix the “This Web Browser Does Not Support the Generation of Certificate Requests” Error

Now I’m not talking about some esoteric and isolated scenario, I am talking about using Microsoft’s latest (at this time) and (probably) best web browser attempting to access a feature that is not old, outdated, or installed on some archaic operating system. This is a daily setup, and it’s failing.

Why?
I looked around, and behold: It seems to be related with how Windows 8’s IE 10 works with the Microsoft AD-CS Web Enrollment website, even if it is installed on Windows Server 2008 R2. In order to display the certificate website, we must switch browser modes.
Internet Explorer 10 provides the following browser modes:

• Internet Explorer 10
• Internet Explorer 10 Compatibility View
• Internet Explorer 9
• Internet Explorer 8
• Internet Explorer 7

The Internet Explorer 10 Compatibility View will allow the certificate Web Enrollment website to display properly. To change browser modes open Internet Explorer 10 and either select Tools > F12 Developer Tools, or simply press F12.
At the bottom of the Internet Explorer 10 window you will see set of menus appear. Select the Browser Mode tab, and then select Internet Explorer 10 Compatibility View.

You can also press the “broken page” icon next to the right-hand side of the address bar.

Now your certificate website will display correctly, allowing you to request a certificate on your client system.

And I ask again: Why?
But never mind. Perhaps this is one of those things we just need to live with.