Cannot use Microsoft or Office Update

[harlemnocturn]

Yesterday I rolled back from IE8 to IE7. Now I can do neither updates.
After I click "Run" it keeps asking to download Active X Controls. In
following the Knowledge Base articles, I now have a bar that says my security
settings put my computer at risk. How can I fix the problem so I can use the
update sites?

[PA Bear [MS MVP]]

Office Update was retired on Saturday, 01 Aug-09; see
http://blogs.technet.com/office_sustained_engineering/archive/2009/05/20/office-2000-and-office-update-site-to-retire.aspx

Please state your full Windows version (e.g., WinXP SP3; Vista x64 SP2) when
posting to this newsgroup.

> Yesterday I rolled back from IE8 to IE7.

And how did you "roll back" from IE8 to IE7?

What anti-virus application or security suite is installed and is your
subscription current? What anti-spyware applications (other than Defender)?
What third-party firewall (if any)? Were any of these applications running
in the background when you installed and/or uninstalled IE8?

Has a(another) Norton or McAfee application ever been installed on this
machine (e.g., a free-trial version that came preinstalled when you bought
it)?
--
~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
MS MVP-IE, Mail, Security, Windows Client - since 2002

[harlemnocturn]

The full version of Windows on this computer is Microsoft Windows XP
Professional Version 2002 Service Pack 3.

I "rolled back" to IE7 by using Control Panel/Add Remove Programs, deleting
IE8 there and restarting.

My security software is Threat Fire, Avira and Online Armor. There was a
trial version of McAfee Antivirus installed, and my cable company provided
McAfee Security Suite, which I used for a time until last year.

Additionally, I was able to validate my Office and Windows on your webpages,
although for Office I had to download and run Genuine Advantage.

[PA Bear [MS MVP]]

Thank you. Before I start, let me tell you that no one here works for or
represents Microsoft (including me). We're all volunteers.

McAfee applications (and you've had at least 2 of them installed) are
notorious for not uninstalling cleanly. The presence of these "leftovers"
may be causing your problem.

1. Download the McAfee Consumer Products Removal tool, saving it to your
desktop: http://service.mcafee.com/FAQDocument.aspx?id=TS100507 (Step #2)

2. Close all open applications (i.e., anything with an icon on your
taskbar).

3. Double-click on the file you saved in #1 above to run to utility. Do not
TOUCH your keyboard until the run completes, then reboot.

4. Now go to http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com and see if everything's OK
now.
--
~PA Bear

[harlemnocturn]

I just ran the McAfee Removal Tool and restarted. The problem persists.

[PA Bear [MS MVP]]

Now try Resetting IE7 Advanced settings; see
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/923737

[harlemnocturn]

Done. The Updates work! Thank you.

[PA Bear [MS MVP]]

You're welcome & thanks for your feedback.

What's your opinion of McAfee applications now?

PS: You were really lucky! If that Reset didn't work, you were looking at
formatting your HDD and reinstalling Windows!

[harlemnocturn]

I had to use the McAfee Removal Tool before, and kept in stored in my system,
thinking I might have to use it again. Since getting rid of McAfee, which
seemed to often become corrupted and required reinstallations, I have
switched my security software many times - Comodo, PC Tools, to what I use
now. I have A+ training, so I know McAfee is in a class with Norton. Both
came with computers I've owned, otherwise I would have never used them, not
even briefly.

[PA Bear [MS MVP]]

> I had to use the McAfee [Consumer Products] Removal Tool before,

> and kept in stored in my system, thinking I might have to use it again.

That utility is frequently updated so you might want to download the newest
version anytime you need it. Ditto for the Norton Removal Tool.