ActiveX is not supported

Via Windows Update I installed the recent Security Update for Microsoft
Data Access Components 2.8 (KB911562) and Cumulative Security Update for
Internet Explorer 6 Service Pack 1 (KB912812) Windows ME updates. That
broke Help and Works calendar. I used xxcopy to clone my system hard
drive. With the cloned disk as system disk I installed MDAC SP1 and
that fixed HELP and Works calendar and I thought all was well. But, I
found that MSN Money Portfolio (Investment Toolbox version, not basic)
failed and the ActiveX test at

http://www.pcpitstop.com/testax.asp

said "ActiveX is not supported", even when I used Internet Explorer
Version 6.0.2800.1106 with security level set to low.

Going back to my original hard drive (the one without MDAC SP1) as
system disk I found the pcpitstop ActiveX test also came up with
"ActiveX is not supported" but the the MSN Money Portfolio worked just
fine. Perhaps Portfolio would fail too, if I reinstalled it.

Any hints about the cause of the ActiveX failure and what I could do to
fix it? Could the KB912812 update be the culprit?




Tom

Any hints about the cause of the ActiveX failure and what I could do
to fix it? Could the KB912812 update be the culprit?

Did you read the accompanying KB article? Repeat slowly to yourself
EOLAS. For more details see KB912812 "MS06-013: Cumulative security
update for Internet Explorer" (http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=912812).
--
Mike Maltby



MrTom wrote:

Via Windows Update I installed the recent Security Update for
Microsoft Data Access Components 2.8 (KB911562) and Cumulative
Security Update for Internet Explorer 6 Service Pack 1 (KB912812)
Windows ME updates. That broke Help and Works calendar. I used
xxcopy to clone my system hard drive. With the cloned disk as system
disk I installed MDAC SP1 and that fixed HELP and Works calendar and
I thought all was well. But, I found that MSN Money Portfolio
(Investment Toolbox version, not basic) failed and the ActiveX test at

http://www.pcpitstop.com/testax.asp

said "ActiveX is not supported", even when I used Internet Explorer
Version 6.0.2800.1106 with security level set to low.

Going back to my original hard drive (the one without MDAC SP1) as
system disk I found the pcpitstop ActiveX test also came up with
"ActiveX is not supported" but the the MSN Money Portfolio worked just
fine. Perhaps Portfolio would fail too, if I reinstalled it.

Any hints about the cause of the ActiveX failure and what I could do
to fix it? Could the KB912812 update be the culprit?




Tom

Yes, I did read that update and, frankly, I had, and still have,
difficulty understanding exactly how it applies to Windows ME. The
Compatibility Patch Available seemed it might be something to try, but
it does not apply to Windows ME. KB912812 was a critical update from
Microsoft, so I am surprised that installing it would cause applications
like MSN Portolio, a Microsoft product, to fail.

Might uninstalling KB912812 be reasonable to try?

Tom

Mike M wrote:
Any hints about the cause of the ActiveX failure and what I could do
to fix it? Could the KB912812 update be the culprit?

Did you read the accompanying KB article? Repeat slowly to yourself
EOLAS. For more details see KB912812 "MS06-013: Cumulative security
update for Internet Explorer" (http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=912812).

Are you sure you read the article I referred you to? More information at
KB912945 "Internet Explorer ActiveX update"
(http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=912945), this earlier patch is
included as part of KB912812 and follows on from the legal action by
EOLAS. You can also use Google and check out the many reports of the
dispute between EOLAS and Microsoft.

KB912812 was a critical update from
Microsoft, so I am surprised that installing it would cause
applications like MSN Portolio, a Microsoft product, to fail.

Perhaps you should take that up with US justices who found in favour of
EOLAS forcing Microsoft to change their handling of ActiveX controls.

Might uninstalling KB912812 be reasonable to try?

Yes subject to laying your system open to some recently discovered
security vulnerabilities that are being heavily exploited by malware
sites. Better perhaps to install KB917425 "Internet Explorer ActiveX
compatibility patch for Mshtml.dll"
(http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=917425) however note that this
work-around will only work until June.
--
Mike Maltby



MrTom wrote:

Yes, I did read that update and, frankly, I had, and still have,
difficulty understanding exactly how it applies to Windows ME. The
Compatibility Patch Available seemed it might be something to try, but
it does not apply to Windows ME. KB912812 was a critical update from
Microsoft, so I am surprised that installing it would cause
applications like MSN Portolio, a Microsoft product, to fail.

Might uninstalling KB912812 be reasonable to try?

Mike,

Yes, I read the article to which you referred. The compatibility patch
KB917425, according to its description, does not apply to Windows ME,
the OS I am running. The http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=912945 to
which you referred also does not apply to Windows ME.

My impression of this situation is that Microsoft has put Windows ME
users in a bind by bundling the security update and the ActiveX change
into a single critical update for Windows ME and other OS's like XP.
Then they provided a temporary 'til June compatibility fix for XP, but
not (at least according to their documentation) for ME.

Tom

Mike M wrote:
Are you sure you read the article I referred you to? More information
at KB912945 "Internet Explorer ActiveX update"
(http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=912945), this earlier patch is
included as part of KB912812 and follows on from the legal action by
EOLAS. You can also use Google and check out the many reports of the
dispute between EOLAS and Microsoft.

KB912812 was a critical update from
Microsoft, so I am surprised that installing it would cause
applications like MSN Portolio, a Microsoft product, to fail.

Perhaps you should take that up with US justices who found in favour of
EOLAS forcing Microsoft to change their handling of ActiveX controls.

Might uninstalling KB912812 be reasonable to try?

Yes subject to laying your system open to some recently discovered
security vulnerabilities that are being heavily exploited by malware
sites. Better perhaps to install KB917425 "Internet Explorer ActiveX
compatibility patch for Mshtml.dll"
(http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=917425) however note that this
work-around will only work until June.

My reason for posting the link to KB912945 was to try and help you
understand the changes that have taken place as a result of the EOLAS
judgement and form part of the KB911562 Cumulative Update for IE6 SP1 that
you installed. You are correct in that Microsoft have only made the
KB917425 temporary hotfix available for those running IE6 SP2 which forms
part of XP SP2 and later.

My impression of this situation is that Microsoft has put Windows ME
users in a bind by bundling the security update and the ActiveX change
into a single critical update for Windows ME

What has happened is a result of the EOLAS judgement. Microsoft had no
option but to change the behaviour of Internet Explorer and the change to
IE6 SP1 in Win Me is as far as I can determine identical to that in XP
SP1.
--
Mike Maltby



MrTom wrote:

Mike,

Yes, I read the article to which you referred. The compatibility
patch KB917425, according to its description, does not apply to
Windows ME, the OS I am running. The
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=912945 to which you referred also
does not apply to Windows ME.
My impression of this situation is that Microsoft has put Windows ME
users in a bind by bundling the security update and the ActiveX change
into a single critical update for Windows ME and other OS's like XP.
Then they provided a temporary 'til June compatibility fix for XP, but
not (at least according to their documentation) for ME.

Mike,

I appreciate your comments. Prior to my original post I was aware of
the reason for the ActiveX change and had looked at much of the
Microsoft info and done much Googling on the subject.

My question is what is the best thing to do about it? What are other
users of Windows ME doing?

Tom
Mike M wrote:
My reason for posting the link to KB912945 was to try and help you
understand the changes that have taken place as a result of the EOLAS
judgement and form part of the KB911562 Cumulative Update for IE6 SP1
that you installed. You are correct in that Microsoft have only made
the KB917425 temporary hotfix available for those running IE6 SP2 which
forms part of XP SP2 and later.

My impression of this situation is that Microsoft has put Windows ME
users in a bind by bundling the security update and the ActiveX change
into a single critical update for Windows ME

What has happened is a result of the EOLAS judgement. Microsoft had no
option but to change the behaviour of Internet Explorer and the change
to IE6 SP1 in Win Me is as far as I can determine identical to that in
XP SP1.

What are other users of Windows ME doing?

In the case of this user, nothing. The 911562 critical hotfix has had no
impact to date on my way of working.
--
Mike Maltby



MrTom wrote:

Mike,

I appreciate your comments. Prior to my original post I was aware of
the reason for the ActiveX change and had looked at much of the
Microsoft info and done much Googling on the subject.

My question is what is the best thing to do about it? What are other
users of Windows ME doing?