> The Norton A/V subscription expired and I uninstalled it thru Add/Remove
> before installing new A/V software.
Say no more.
Back-up any personal data (none of which should be considered 100%
trustworthy at this point) then do a format & clean install of Windows.
Please note that a Repair Install (AKA in-place upgrade) will NOT fix this!
HOW TO do a clean install of WinXP: See
http://michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.html#steps and/or Method 1 in
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/978307
After the clean install, you'll have the equivalent of a "new computer" so
take care of everything on the following page before otherwise connecting
the machine to the internet or a network and before using a USB key that
isn't brand-new or hasn't been freshly formatted:
4 steps to help protect your new computer before you go online
http://www.microsoft.com/security/pypc.aspx
Other helpful references include:
HOW TO get a computer running WinXP Gold (no Service Packs) fully patched
(after a clean install)
http://groups.google.com/group/microsoft.public.windowsupdate/msg/3f5afa8ed33e121c
HOW TO get a computer running WinXP SP1(a) or SP2 fully patched (after a
clean install)
http://groups.google.com/group/microsoft.public.windowsxp.general/msg/a066ae41add7dd2b
Tip: After getting the computer fully-patched, download/install KB971029
manually:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/971029
NB: Any Norton or McAfee free-trial that came preinstalled on the computer
when you bought it will be reinstalled (but invalid) when Windows is
reinstalled. You MUST uninstall the free-trial and download/run the
appropriate removal tool before installing any updates, Windows Service
Packs or IE upgrades and before installing your new anti-virus application
(which will require WinXP SP3 to be installed).
Norton Removal Tool
ftp://ftp.symantec.com/public/english_us_canada/removal_tools/Norton_Removal_Tool.exe
McAfee Consumer Products Removal Tool
http://download.mcafee.com/products/licensed/cust_support_patches/MCPR.exe
Also see:
Steps To Help Prevent Spyware
http://www.microsoft.com/security/spyware/prevent.aspx
Steps to Help Prevent Computer Worms
http://www.microsoft.com/security/worms/prevent.aspx
Avoid Rogue Security Software!
http://www.microsoft.com/security/antivirus/rogue.aspx
--
~PA Bear
www.banthecheck.com
Scotirish wrote:
> The Norton A/V subscription expired and I uninstalled it thru Add/Remove
> before installing new A/V software. I did not know about the "Norton
> Removal Tool" I don't believe In addition, this problem occurred long
> after I ended Norton (for example, I have an account with Linksys and
> could
> log in with no problem until recently when this Active X thing popped up)!
> Could this be caused by an add-on such as Zone Alarm's Spy Blocker or
> McAfee's Site Advisor by any chance?
>
> "PA Bear [MS MVP]" wrote:
>
>>> ...I have antivirus...installed
>>
>> And its name & version is...? Is your subscription current?
>>
>>> ...did have Norton Antivirus a few years ago.
>>
>> Had your subscription ever expired? If it was a free trial version, did
>> the free trial version expired before you installed a replacement
>> anti-virus application?
>>
>> After uninstalling NAV, did you then download/run the Norton Removal Tool
>> *before* you installed the replacement anti-virus application?
>>
>>
>> Scotirish wrote:
>>> As suggested by ROB, I "reset all zones to default" and nothing changed.
>>>
>>> Re PA BEAR's questions: I have antivirus and antispyware software
>>> installed. No Windows Defender. Also, I have no Norton or McAfee
>>> Antivirus
>>> on machine but did have Norton Antivirus a few years ago. Now have Zone
>>> Alarm firewall; also Zone Alarm's Spyware Blocker and McAfee Site
>>> Advisor
>>> on
>>> machine. Could those two be causing my problem and should be disabled
>>> for
>>> another try?
>>>
>>> As for firewall and antivirus software disabled before installing IE8
>>> and
>>> SP3, I am pretty darn sure that was done prior to downloads.
>>>
>>> "PA Bear [MS MVP]" wrote:
>>>
>>>> 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 IE8 and/or
>>>> SP3?
>>>>
>>>> Has a(another) Norton or McAfee application ever been installed on the
>>>> computer (e.g., a free-trial version that came preinstalled when you
>>>> bought
>>>> it)?
>>>>
>>>> Scotirish wrote:
>>>>> I have IE8 on Windows XP Home Edition with XP3 and I cannot activate
>>>>> Active
>>>>> X controls. Have tried 2 or 3 suggestions, going into Internet
>>>>> Options
>>>>> and
>>>>> made changes, but still cannot sign in to some web sites as they say I
>>>>> need
>>>>> to activate Active X controls! Any ideas for fixing this problem
>>>>> would
>>>>> be
>>>>> appreciated. Thanks.
>>>>
>>>> .
>>
>> .