"Noel S Pamfree" <Noel.spamfree@hotmail.com> schrieb:

> This means that when I try (for example) to download Flash 8 from the
> Macromedia site nothing happens because I need to have the bar open in order
> to tell the machine to install ActiveX.

Did that happen after installing KB896688 (MS05-052), the latest
Cumulative Update for IE? If yes, try the following:

Download the file OLEfix.zip available here (it is a registry file
that origin from MS Support, and it has fixed the ActiveX problem
for several people, getting this problem after installing KB896688):

http://patch-info.de/IE/Downloads/OLEfix.zip

Extract it and double click the contained OLEfix.reg file. Click Yes
on the dialog box that asks you if you are sure to add the information
in OLEfix.reg to the registry.

See also the new released KB article http://support.microsoft.com/kb/909889
which is referred to *now* in the revised Security Bulletin 05-052.

HTH,
Freudi