I have tried to go to microsoft update and it keeps telling me my Active x is off. It's not. I even went to norton security to do the free scan and all was well. Had Active X been shut off, I wouldn't have been able to use norton online.
I checked all IE security settings and firewall settings, all seems normal and set to allow or prompt Active X .

I decided to uninstall IE6.
upon doing so, I rebooted, came back, and windows wouldn't load.
I tried this several times.
Everything seemed gone.

I reinstalled my OS and saved system files.
Everything works fine now, but windows update is telling me the same thing.

WTF? I almost just reformatted my drive b/c of microsoft.

Why is this happening?

hello
well trying to d/l up dates shut off virus scanner and fire wall might even ctrl,alt,delete and shut off every thing but system tray explorer and your internet conection and windows up date.

Your IE was corrupted download a new copy, you didn't need to do repair on OS and i doubt if that could fix IE.
just get new IE that handles the active x.