How Do You Install Activex Controls on Internet Explorer 6.0?

Installing ActiveX controls is basically a "downloading" process, whereby the IE 6.0 browser, upon visiting an ActiveX-enabled site, recognizes that an ActiveX control is needed for some vital Web site function.
Installing ActiveX controls from certain sites often is necessary for playing certain on-line games or for interacting with other on-line applications, such as with ActiveX-enabled Web forms where users input information for on-line orders.

Difficulty:

Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Windows Workstation (XP or Vista) or Windows Server Internet Explorer 6.0

Trusted Sites Method

1. On the IE6 Tools menu, click "Internet Options," and then click the "Security" tab.

2. Trusted Sites Security Zone

   Click the "Trusted Sites" security zone to select it.

3. Click the "Sites" button.

4. Uncheck (Deselect) the check-box for "Require server verification," if it shows as being checked.

5. Type the URL of the web site needing to download an ActiveX control into the "Add this Website to the zone" window.

6. Trusted Sites List Window

   Click the "Add" button to add the site to the Trusted Sites zone. Note: You will see your typed URL move to the second window (the Websites window).

7. Click "Close" to finish and exit from the "Trusted Sites" window. This will return you to the Internet Options Security Tab on the "Internet Options" window.

8. Click "OK," which will complete the changes and which will close the "Internet Options" window.

9. Go to the Web site for which you need to download the ActiveX control.

10. You may or may not see a message that "An ActiveX control is loading." Note: You may or may not be prompted to download the control; if prompted, and if you trust this ActiveX control, choose "Yes" to allow it to download.

11. Once you have either received a message that an ActiveX control has been loaded or you have waited 5 minutes, remove the site from the Trusted Sites zone.

Remove the Site

1. On the IE6 Tools menu, click "Internet Options," and then click the "Security" tab.

2. Click the "Trusted Sites" security zone to select it.

3. Click the Sites button.

4. Highlight the URL of the web site that you added in Step #5 of "Trusted Sites Method."

5. Click the "Remove" button to remove the site from the list of "Trusted Sites."

6. Click "Close" to finish and exit from the "Trusted Sites" window. This will return you to the Internet Options Security Tab on the "Internet Options" window.

7. Click "OK," which will complete the changes and close the "Internet Options" window.

Tips & Warnings

• One assumption here is that the site containing the ActiveX control you desire to download only requires special settings during the download (install). This is typically the case; therefore, once finished loading the ActiveX control, you may then revert back to your previous IE 6 settings.

• Remember to revert to your previous browser settings---a security level of at least "Medium" and removal of the ActiveX site from Trusted Sites zone.

Resources

• Microsoft's Official Blurb on IE6 Zones and Secuirty