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IE 7 not saving setting for activex and plug-ins

I have XP Pro, administrator rights, IE7 with all critical patches. When I get into IE, I receive the message "Do I want to allow activex control and plug-ins to run" Current setting is Mediium-High and I have tried altering it to Medium and tried just enabling that through Security Internet Customer setting. I click OK or Apply (does not matter) and it works fine until I stop and restart IE, then it all goes right back to Meidum-High with the default settings. How can I make it save the setting for good and stop defaulting. It there something in the registry maybe I can tweak??

LMeyers08

ASKER

One last point. I also tried uninstalling and reinstalling IE7 with no luck on stopping the message

jcimarron

LMeyers08--For just stopping the message:
Internet Explorer select Tools|Internet Options| Security |Internet zone|Custom Level
For "Run ActiveX controls and plug-ins" select Enable. Then click APPLY/OK.
Concerning the inability to make changes in the Security tab permanent:
Some third party "Security" Programs will not permit changes to the IE Security settings. These include Spybot, AdAware, SpywareBlaster, MS One Care, etc. Try uninstalling or disabling such programs one by one.
http://www.techtalkz.com/internet-explorer/53169-ie7-security-zone-settings-registry-get-reset.html
It also could be that your client does not have Administrator rights.

LMeyers08

ASKER

I will try disabling TrendMicro AV then make the change and see if it saves it. She does have Admin rights but I have used TrendMicro for years and have never seen this symptom. I will send an update tonight after I make the change. Thanks for the input.

jcimarron

LMeyers08--Did you see the list of programs in Frank Saunders' reply which could be causing the reset? http://www.techtalkz.com/internet-explorer/53169-ie7-security-zone-settings-registry-get-reset.html

LMeyers08

ASKER

I started the computer in safe mode and tried it. Still getting the pop ups and internet security is still set to medium-high. I looked at the list of programs and I have none of those on the computer. I can set it back to medium and it will stay there until I recycle IE, then it goes right back to Medium-high.

jcimarron

LMeyers08--Try running IE without add-ons. Start|All Programs|Accessories|Ayatem Tools|Internet Explorer (no add-ons). Do you get the message? Make the changes in Security. When you next recycle IE, open it the same way--without add-ons. See what happens. If that helps you want to get rid of one or more add-ons. We can discuss that later if you want.

LMeyers08

ASKER

OK, tried it without the add-ons. Worked a couple times but now pop-ups are happening again.

LMeyers08

ASKER

is there a registry hack I can make that would force it to stay with RUN ACTIVEX CONTROLS AND PLUG-INS ENABLED?

jcimarron

LMeyers08--Here is where the Security Zone settings reside in Registry.
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;182569
By all means try to make them stick. Let us know if they do.
If that does not help--
"Worked a couple times but now pop-ups are happening again"
If you mean that it worked as long as you opened IE with no add-ons, but then went back to the problem when you opened IE the normal way, then you should determine what add-on is causing the problem. IE Tools|Manage Add-ons|Enable or Disable Add-ons. There are four windows of add-ons that can be accessed from the dropdown arrow. You can disable all and see what happens, then reenable the add-ons one by one. Or some disable half and see what happens. Theoretically that would be faster.

LMeyers08

ASKER

What I meant is that for a few times with no add-ons I got no pop-ups. I would say 3-4 times of open/closing with no add-ons, then still using the no add-ons, pop-ups started happening again. I will try the registry modification and let you know. Thank you for the help so far.

LMeyers08

ASKER

OK, I have tried the registry change and it works until I reboot the computer. I even tried disbabling WRITE DAC to that key #3, no difference. Something is changing it back on reboot but I have no idea what it could be. I do not have any of the software on the PC that was reported earlier.

LMeyers08

ASKER

let me try making the change then booting back up in SAFE MODE with networking and see then if it changes. I already tried booting into SAFE MODE then making the change but when I rebooted back normal, the change happened. I will update tonight.

jcimarron

LMeyers08--Perhaps I should wait until you report back, but if things still do not work
1) You can get rid of all add-ons (and other customizations to IE) by IE Tools|Internet Options|Advanced|
Reset button. With time you will get add-ons back as needed but you should be aware of the other consequences of using Reset. http://support.microsoft.com/kb/936213/ From what you report, one or more add-ons seem to be involved in the problem.
2) You can determine what programs are running on the PC, especially any that are connected to IE by using Process Explorer. http://www.microsoft.com/technet/sysinternals/utilities/processexplorer.mspx

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jcimarron

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LMeyers08

ASKER

OK, I tried the resetting of IE with no luck. It maintains the settings I set when I am in it but whenever I reboot the PC, it changes back to MEDIUM-HIGH with ACTIVE CONTROLS and PLUGINs PROMPT. I will try the last entry about the settings tweak.

jcimarron

LMeyers08--Glad to hear the good news!