How to Install the ActiveX Control on Facebook Photos
ActiveX controls are small programs that work with Internet Explorer to display certain types of files. When you try to view certain photos or animations in Facebook, you may get a message, usually via a pop-up window, that you must install an ActiveX control to view them. Many people worry that this means that Facebook wants you to download a virus or spyware of some kind. On the contrary--these types of files are pretty much par for the course.
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Instructions
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Launch Internet Explorer on your machine. Once the program loads, click on the "Tools" menu. It should be at the top of the window directly underneath the navigation bar. Click on "Internet Options" in the drop-down menu. It will be at the very bottom.
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Look at the "Internet Options" window that comes up. There are seven tabs at the top. Click on the one that says "Security" on it. Click on the button near the bottom of the window that says "Custom Level" on it.
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Look at the new menu that says "Security Settings -- Internet Zone" at the top. Scroll down until you find an item called "ActiveX Controls." Double-click on it. You will see 10 items related to ActiveX, each with a series of radial buttons next to it.
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Find the option that says "Run ActiveX Controls and Plug-ins." Click on the radial button next to the word "Enable." Continue through the list, looking for the options that have the word "Recommended" in parentheses next to them. Click the radial button for each of these options. This will allow ActiveX to install, but only with your permission--not automatically. That way, you can block it if you wish.
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Click "OK" at the bottom of the window. Close your Internet Explorer window and restart the program. Navigate to a page in Facebook where an ActiveX window came up when you tried to view a photo. Look for a yellow bar at the top of your screen that is the same width as your standard toolbar. Click on it and select "Allow" to let ActiveX run for this page. You should be able to view the photo properly.
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Tips & Warnings
Remember, this option only works in Internet Explorer. You cannot use it with a Macintosh machine or with another browser, such as Firefox.
Your work machine may have settings on it that block you from using ActiveX. This is often the case if these steps don't work for you. Be cautious when you allow an ActiveX control to be run. Since a malicious site could install a harmful control, only install ActiveX controls from sites that you trust.
