IE6, Windows Update, ActiveX error

I am running winXPpro, IE6 version 6.0.2600..., 128 bit, and I can't get Windows Update to work due to ActiveX error "your current security settings do not allow ActiveX controls to run on this page ".

I have gone through every MS KB page that deals with this, followed all instructions; I've dealt with MS support, done everything they told me to do, including renaming catroot2, editing the registry, cleaning out windows update folder, un- and re-registering dlls, un- and re-installing IE (install error on that one), repair windows with OS CD, etc. The last thing MS wanted me to do was a clean reinstall of the OS but I really don't want to do that. I've got too much on there I could lose.

I've read several of the MS.public newsgroups (which is how I came to this board) all the way back to June 2003 and followed the tips in a few of the messages, but nothing has helped.

My security settings are set as low as I can get them, nothing has worked, and I'm at my wit's end to get my updates, and also to finalize the purchase of about $20 worth of music downloads. I can't play the songs or write them to CD because Windows Media Player can't do whatever it is that it tries to do to validate my purchase!

I've done everything that anyone has suggested on every newsgroup and website I have found (including this one!), and if anyone here has anything to suggest I would appreciate it SOOOO much! Just let me know if you need more info, I'm happy to provide it.

Thank you, and thanks for having this website!

 

pixelmeow --Perhaps I misunderstand, but the solution should be to make sure your Security settings are set to allow ActiveX to run. Specific to the Windows Update site, the simplest way to accomplish that is to put the Windows Update site URL into your IE Tools|Internet Options|Security tab|Trusted Sites|Sites. (Uncheck the box "Require server verification... ".)
Or in general, IE Tools|Internet Options|Security tab|Custom Level|under "Run ActiveX controls and plugins" check either Prompt or Enable. If you chose Prompt, in the future when you visit a site, you will be asked each time an ActiveX control needs to run. Click Yes.
It should not be necessary, but it would not hurt to reboot after making changes in the Security settings.

 

Thanks for the response, Jim, but I have tried these things, along with rebooting afterward. None of them have worked so far.

When I tried adding the windows update site to the trusted sites box, it gave me an error because it was not a secure site, ie "https ". Sigh.

after posting this, I went back to look and the https thingy is because of the checkbox you mention. At any rate, I have put the windows update site into the trusted sites box, and that didn't help for all the times I tried to access the site.

 

Did you uncheck the box that says "Require server verification (https: ) for all sites in this zone" ?

 

I have seen spyware/malware keep someone from WU. Install, update and run both Spybot and Ad-aware. Delete all they find. Max configuration settings here.
Possibly a corrupt ActiveX control already in place on your PC? Get HijackThis, run a scan and save to log. Paste the results here. Don't fix anything yet!

A shot in the dark but worth a try.

 

Thanks, Pete and Zander, I had tried adding the sites to the trusted sites box before with no luck, and when I figured out about the checkbox I remembered that it hadn't worked before.

Thanks, Noah, for the links, I've downloaded HijackThis and a lot of other neat things I found there and will play with them today and do as you say, post the list of what it finds.