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Click to run an ActiveX control on this webpage

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bkoopers

bkoopers

IS-IT--Management
Apr 26, 2005
88
US
Since installing a recent Windows update, I now get this pop-up window in Internet Explorer v6 on a number of webpages:

Click to run an ActiveX control on this webpage

In addition, if there is a flash object link on a webpage, I have to click it twice to open it.

A few weeks ago, I read a tech note somewhere that the fix was to uninstall a specific Windows update. I did that and both problems were gone. After another recent Windows update, both problems came back. I cannot locate that tech note that specified what to uninstall to fix this. I searched the Microsft Knowledge Base and still could not find it.

What do I need to do to eliminate those two problems?

Thanks to anyone who can help me out.
 
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That webpage was last updated on May 11, 2005 but my problem just happenned recently and I keep up-to-date with all Windows updates. Can this problem be caused by something else?

Even if that is my problem, the reference talks about changing my own webpages. That does not eliminate that annoyance when going to other people's webpages.

For my own webpages, I do not understand the directions for making this problem go away.

Here is a simple webpage where I am forced to click on the "Click to run an ActiveX control on this webpage" box:


What would I need to change to prevent that pop-up box from appearing?

Thanks to anyone who can help me out.
 
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When I first had the problem a few months ago, I executed WindowsXP-KB917425-x86-ENU.exe and it fixed the problem. After a recent Windows update, the problem came back and when I execute that fix now, it does not install and this error pops up:

KB917425 Setup Error
The version of Internet Explorer you have installed does not match the update you are trying to install.

The version Internet Explorer I have installed is:

6.0.2900.2180.xpsp_sp2_gdr.050301-1519

What can I do to stop the "Click to run an ActiveX control on this webpage" box from popping up? It is extremely annoying.
 
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As I mentioned earlier, this can no longer be removed.
 
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On some webpages, I have to click that box a number of times, once for every such item on the page. Are you saying that everyone now has this problem and I am the only one voicing a complaint in this forum and there are no plans for Microsoft or anyone else to come up with a fix?

If this is the case, I will start using Mozilla Firefox as my main web browser and only use Internet Explorer to test out changes I make to my web pages.

I would have thought that Microsoft would not like the idea of people being encouraged to switch to another web browser.
 
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The behaviour that you're seeing is the 'fix'. With a little research, you will find that MS does not particularly care for this behavior (or the other $tipulation$ that relate to it). This applies to all graphical web browsers, but only IE is backed by deep enough pockets to matter. To be unbiased, I will even start your research at the Mozilla site - see
 
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Can you give an example of web pages that display this phenomenon.

I am using Outpost firewall, with settings to block Active Content on web pages, I never see any ActiveX clickable parts, hell, I don't even see those green links in Tek-Tip pages for Ads. I'm not complaining.
 
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To smah:
I read the webpage at the eolas link you provided. It has a link to a Microsoft webpage that discusses this issue. I have read this before but I cannot figure out from anything I read that tells me exactly what to do to fix this on my webpages or what to do to fix this when viewing web pages not under my control. Can you or anybody else please provide me with the exact directions? Thanks.

To linney:
I provided a link in my previous post above to a simple webpage that I created that exhibits the problem. Here it is again:


Is there any Internet Explorer setting that can be turned off to eliminate that prompt?

I use the ZoneAlarm free firewall software. Is there any setting in there can can eliminate this prompt like you did with the Outpost firewall? I looked for something related to ActiveX but I found nothing.
 
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Avant Browser (an enhanced front end for IE) has an easy one-click option to disable ActiveX (and ads, pop-ups, &c)

More at:
LIVERPOOL FC - FA Cup Winners 2006.
Iechyd da! John
Glannau Mersi, Lloegr.
 
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To SlimJohnD:

Thanks for the suggestion of using Avant Browser but if there is no fix for Internet Explorer, is there a compelling reason why I would want to install Avant Browser instead of using Mozilla Firefox that I already have installed?
 
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To SlimJohnD:
I don't doubt that I will not get that ActiveX pop-up window when using the Avant Browser but I don't get the pop-up window using Mozilla Firefox, Netscape or Opera either. If I can't use Internet Explorer anymore, what advantage would there be in installing Avant Browser as a 5th web browser when I already have Mozilla Firefox and two others) installed that don't have the problem?

I would prefer to use Internet Explorer because that is what most people use. I want to be sure that all my websites continue to work properly with Internet Explorer and using Internet Explorer as my main web browser will allow be to find out about such problems as soon as they occur.
 
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Have you looked at the Controls available to you in IE/ Tools/ Security/ Custom Level, look at the ActiveX and scripting options.
 
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To linney:
Yes, I have looked at those options but have not found a combination that makes a difference. Do you know a specific setting that should be changed to eliminate that pop-up?
 
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Just tried that link you supplied with IE6 and the SP2 firewall, and again with IE7 in Vista Beta2 with the Beta2 Vista firewall, in both instances I just get a black page with an outlined rectangle titled "Manhattan, New York". There is text saying "(click [Play] button to start) below the rectangle. I see no ActiveX prompts, or any Play button, and no other clickable links. I have no special settings other than the Defaults in either browser.
 
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The other people that responded in this thread indicated that this problem now happens to everyone who has the latest updates installed and it cannot be fixed. Do you have all the available Windows XP updates installed or are the other people incorrect and there is a unique problem on my computer?
 
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Do you know a specific setting that should be changed to eliminate that pop-up?"

Sorry I don't, normally I just rely on my Outpost Firewall to handle it. Incidentally when looking at your Web Site in my normal machine, which has Outpost Firewall running, I just get a black screen (no rectangle) with this the only data displayed and no links or buttons.

The Fire and Reason
"It Starts With 1"
at "The Continental"
Manhattan, New York
June 25, 2006

(click [Play] button to start)


I DO NOTICE that on all 3 systems I have looked at your page the IE Pop-up blocker is running. Turning it Off made no difference. Even if I stop Outpost Firewall from blocking web pages, I then just see your Web Site as I reported in my earlier post (the rectangle place holder).

I don't really know what is the significance of this but just report it as what I see.






"Do you have all the available Windows XP updates installed or are the other people incorrect and there is a unique problem on my computer?"

Yes I am fully updated with SP2 and all available updates, except for the "Windows Genuine Advantage" update, which is a personal choice not to install. That update has no bearing I believe on the ActiveX problem, and as previously stated it is a "by design" choice of Microsoft, and not your machine.

I installed KB912945 on 3rd April 2006, and the subsequent IE June 2006, Cumulative Update.




Revisiting the problem update.

Internet Explorer ActiveX update



"After you install this update, you cannot interact with ActiveX controls from certain Web pages until these controls are enabled. To enable an ActiveX control, manually click the control. There are also techniques that Web developers can use to update their Web pages. For more information about these techniques, visit the following MSDN Web site:"




This is a recent change to the way Internet Explorer is going to handle these type of Activex web pages.
If you uninstall that update you may not receive any more IE Security Updates (according to a private Microsoft document I read). ******They are relying on the Web Sites to change the behavior and it is out of the hands of the normal user/surfer******.

There was a temporary workaround for a few months (since finished and withdrawn).

"Microsoft will be releasing an optional IE Active X Compatibility Patch, to be available the same day as the IE ActiveX update. Once deployed, the optional patch will temporarily return IE to the previous functionality for handling ActiveX controls. This optional patch will function until the June IE cumulative update is released at which time the changes to the way Internet Explorer handles ActiveX controls will be permanent."
 
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@bkoopers: I provided a link where MS explains how to do webpages to acommodate to the new behaviour.

What I still cannot believe is how MS can release a software update that doesn't provide backwards compatibility. Any other software product doing this will be forgotten forever.

I have an application in an Intranet and it relies on some ActiveX controls to provide its functionality. PCs are automatically kept up to date with the latest updates. What I don't expect is to wake up one morning and have thousand of users complaining about a pop up that just appeared and, in my case, grabbed the focus and made the combos stop working.

I rolled back the update and now, magic! Change your application or don't update your browser. That's not the way to go, that CAN'T be the way to go.

Cheers,
Dian
 
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