one or more activex controls disabled in services.msc, security options in IE7 grayed out with key in icon

Yes, all 3 symptoms described above on the same machine.  Server 2003, IE7.

In IE, on the Security tab, the "Sites" button and "Custom Level" slider are grayed out.  Even more strange to me is the icon for each zone at the top of the Security page is the same: The IE "e" symbol with a gold key over it - not the usual icons for each zone.

Also, when I open services.msc in the Extended view,  I get the aforementioned "One or more ActiveX controls are disabled..."

I've tried the oft-mentioned http://windowsxp.mvps.org/ie/flags.htm, and the links from that page - no go.

I've compared the HKLM/software/policies... keys to other working systems and see no differences.

I am sure the problems are related.  I just don't know what the problem is.  Thanks.  (dk)