How to Download & Install an Internet Explorer ActiveX Control
Internet Explorer ActiveX controls can enhance your browsing experience and add additional functionality to some websites that you visit. Enhanced graphics, games and full-fledged mini-applications can all be installed in your Internet Explorer browser thanks to ActiveX. Microsoft, for example, may download and install an ActiveX control onto your computer for security update purposes. Another website, on the other hand, might install a completely different type of control which performs a totally unrelated function.
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Instructions
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Look for a yellow information bar at the top of your browser. This bar will appear whenever a website needs to download an ActiveX control. The bar will also contain the name of the control and the publisher who created the control.
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Right-click the information bar to bring up a list of options.
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Click the "What's the risk" option to view the risks associated with installing the control. See "Microsoft: Online Safety" in Resources for more information about ActiveX control risks and dangers.
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Click the "Install ActiveX Control" option if you wish to proceed after reviewing the risks. Click "Yes" when asked, "Do you want to install this software?"
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Click "Install" to begin the installation process. The ActiveX control will download to your computer and inform you when that task is complete. You will not have to restart your browser or reboot your computer. Because ActiveX controls are usually small, your wait time will be minimal.
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Tips & Warnings
Once you download and install an Internet Explorer ActiveX control, you will not have to install it again. These controls can be removed or disabled should you ever have the need to do so.
Make sure that you trust a website before installing its ActiveX control. While basically safe, ActiveX controls can harm your computer if downloaded from a malicious website. Therefore, if you are unfamiliar with a particular website, do not install its ActiveX control. According to Microsoft, "If an ActiveX control is not essential to your computer activity, avoid installing it."
