Manual "Windows Update" produces "ActiveX/active scripting" error message even with "LOW" security level setting in "Trusted" Zone

As of a few days ago, my efforts to update Windows XP Home using IE 6.0
produce a message that instructs me to list 2 URL's in the Trusted Zone and
make sure ActiveX Controls and active scripting are enabled, and to uncheck
the "require server verification" checkbox. Never had a problem before with
Windows Update. I can surf perfectly fine using IE 6.0 using my cable
broadband connection (I get the same message trying Windows Update via
dialup (with another ISP).

Problem persists even when I turn off firewall (Zone Alarm). I never had a
problem before, with Windows Update, even with Zone Alarm running; I don't
think there's a program listed in ZoneAlarm's program list that needs to be
"allowed" to make outgoing connection, independent of IE6 (which I have set
to "always allow"); even if there was, I have "alert" set to "on" and
ZoneAlarm doesn't ask my permission to allow Windows Update to access the
internet (probably because it's part of IE6).

Problem persists with Norton Anti-Virus software turned off.

I know I can always download specific patches and updates and install them,
but I like Microsoft to analyze what I have on my PC and then suggest
downloads (critical, XP, drivers, etc.) that I can choose from, in my sole
discretion.

The only program I've added to my PC recently, that might be related to this
problem, is the anonymous surfing program offered at anonymizer.com, but my
Windows Update problem occurs even though Anonymizer is "off."

None of the links in MS's update troubleshooting page
(http://v4.windowsupdate.microsoft.com/troubleshoot/) help. Any idea of
things I can try? Ray

I'm replying to my 1st post with good news, VERY good news.

After 20 attempts over 2-3 days (trying every change in configurations in
the book I can think of), always getting the same page as described in my
previous post, below, 5 minutes ago I tried for the 21st time and lo and
behold, Windows Update worked perfectly.

The only explanation I can think of is that the Update website has been hit
on so much since Tuesday, that I couldn't get in, but if that's the case,
why wouldn't MS have a page that comes up and simply says "windows update is
at capacity, please try later." Did anybody try to update the patches
released 11/11 and get a "busy" message, just out of curiosity. Probably my
explanation is invalid and I will never know why Update stopped working, and
why it started working again.

Now if I can just find the OEM MS XP Office SB edition CD that came with my
computer, new, I can install the office/word/excel patches released Tuesday.
Ray2


"Ray2" <sonrisa322@comcast.net> wrote in message
news:HpOdnY0Z1aLCIS6iRVn-tA@comcast.com...

> As of a few days ago, my efforts to update Windows XP Home using IE 6.0
> produce a message that instructs me to list 2 URL's in the Trusted Zone

and

> make sure ActiveX Controls and active scripting are enabled, and to

uncheck

> the "require server verification" checkbox. Never had a problem before

with

> Windows Update. I can surf perfectly fine using IE 6.0 using my cable
> broadband connection (I get the same message trying Windows Update via
> dialup (with another ISP).
>
> Problem persists even when I turn off firewall (Zone Alarm). I never had

a

> problem before, with Windows Update, even with Zone Alarm running; I don't
> think there's a program listed in ZoneAlarm's program list that needs to

be

> "allowed" to make outgoing connection, independent of IE6 (which I have

set

> to "always allow"); even if there was, I have "alert" set to "on" and
> ZoneAlarm doesn't ask my permission to allow Windows Update to access the
> internet (probably because it's part of IE6).
>
> Problem persists with Norton Anti-Virus software turned off.
>
> I know I can always download specific patches and updates and install

them,

> but I like Microsoft to analyze what I have on my PC and then suggest
> downloads (critical, XP, drivers, etc.) that I can choose from, in my sole
> discretion.
>
> The only program I've added to my PC recently, that might be related to

this

> problem, is the anonymous surfing program offered at anonymizer.com, but

my

> Windows Update problem occurs even though Anonymizer is "off."
>
> None of the links in MS's update troubleshooting page
> (http://v4.windowsupdate.microsoft.com/troubleshoot/) help. Any idea of
> things I can try? Ray
>
>