On the Windows update site I am getting a message as follows: "Your security settings do not allow Web sites to use ActiveX controls installed on your computer. This page may not display correctly. Click here for options." When I click all I get is "Information Bar Help" and the page stops. I have the default IE6 security settings. Any thoughts?

Are you logged in with Admin privileges? "So won’t you give this man his wings What a shame To have to beg you to see We’re not all the same What a shame" - Shinedown

If you're sure the default settings in Internet Options have not been altered.... Are you using a software firewall other than the default Windows one, such as a separate stand-alone one, or one in anti-malware software? If so, it may be that is what is blocking the ActiveX controls from being installed - you may need to allow Windows Update to go through the firewall, or you could disable the firewall. "Your security settings do not allow Web sites to use ActiveX controls installed on your computer. This page may not display correctly. Click here for options." Click on options, and somewhere in that it will tell you which URLS you must allow to let through the firewall for Windows Update. If that won't work, search the Microsoft web site using the exact message contents. ......... You said in your other Topic you use Firefox for your internet browser. An IE installtion is more than just the IE browser - it also installs many other files that are used by other programs in Windows, including other internet browsers. You need to keep IE up to date, even if you don't want to use the IE browser. You do not have to install IE 7 or 8. Go to the Microsoft Updates web page in IE and install all the updates for IE 6 it finds by using the Express search.

Yes I am logged in as an Admin, the default settings in Internet Options have not been altered, only Windows Firewall is used, and I turned it off but to no avail. Firefox is not an issue here; it was another question and it was answered. I am puzzled since this is another PC on my network (configured the same as the others), and as the other PC's are OK, I am like I said puzzled. Thanks.

The default Windows Firewall does not cause this problem. Are you sure you don't have another software firewall installed? What anti-malware software are you using? I didn't say Firefox was the problem - I merely pointed out you still need to keep IE updated even if you don't want to use the IE browswer. "I am puzzled since this is another PC on my network(configured the same as the others..." Obviously something is different on the one PC.

After much research and a variety of attempts, I simply gave up and reinstalled XP from scratch. As this is merely a test machine this was without question the most expedient solution. Window update now works and AciveX is no longer an issue. Thanks for all the suggestions.