How Do I Know If I Currently Have Activex?

ActiveX browser plug-in

ActiveX is a Microsoft technology that adds functionality to programs running in Windows. It is supported in Internet Explorer and added as a plug-in in the Mozilla Firefox browser. Internet Explorer requires ActiveX to view multimedia content that is embedded on web pages. Flash applications, for example, need ActiveX and so do toolbars that have added functionality. Check for ActiveX on Internet Explorer and adjust the settings as needed. Since some browsers, like Firefox come with the ActiveX controls disabled, it is worth checking the state of the plug-ins.

Instructions

Internet Explorer

1. Fire up your Internet Explorer browser.

2. Click on the "Tools" "Internet Options" menus. A menu appears with seven tabs.

3. Click on the "Security" tab to reveal four more security options.

4. Click on the "Custom Level ..." button located at the bottom of the displayed window.

5. Set the following options appropriately:

   Activex Controls and Plug-ins

   Automatic prompting for ActiveX controls
   0 Disable
   ® Enable
   Binary and script behaviors
   0 Administrator approved
   0 Disable
   ® Enable
   Download signed ActiveX controls
   0 Disable
   0 Enable
   ®Prompt
   Download unsigned ActiveX controls
   ® Disable
   0 Enable
   0 Prompt
   Initialize and script ActiveX controls not marked as safe
   ® Disable
   0 Enable
   0 Prompt
   Run ActiveX controls and plug-ins
   0 Administrator approved
   0 Disable
   ® Enable
   0 Prompt
   Script ActiveX controls marked safe for scripting
   0 Disable
   ® Enable
   0 Prompt

   Allow web pages to use restricted protocols for active content
   0 Disable
   0 Enable
   ® Prompt
   Display mixed content
   0 Disable
   0 Enable
   ® Prompt
   Scripting
   Active Scripting
   0 Disable
   ® Enable
   0 Prompt

6. Click "OK."

Other Browsers

1. Fire up your browser and go to the "Tools" menu.

2. Click on "Add-ons" to view all the plug-ins installed.

3. Check for any ActiveX components.

4. Enable if available by clicking on them and selecting "Enable."

5. Navigate to the Mozilla folder if no ActiveX plug-in is found using the following path:

   Mozilla \ embedding \ browser \ activex \ src

6. Locate the Makefile.ini file and open it using Notepad.

7. Ensure the following line is available and uncommented:

   MOZ_ACTIVEX_PLUGIN_XPCONNECT = 1

   This line is important if the browser is to support ActiveX plug-ins.

8. Download the XPConnect and LiveConnect platforms essential for Active Scripting support by going to:

   www.iol.ie/%7Elocka/mozilla/mozactivex.xpi

9. Unzip the file manually using Winzip or other unzipping utility to your disk.

10. Copy the files below from the unzipped folder into the plug-ins folder of the browser.

    npmozax.dll
    nsiMozAxPlguin.xpt
    MozAxPlugin.class

11. Copy the files below from the same folder into the Windows system folder (C:\Windows\ System32).

    msvcrt.dll
    msvcp60.dll

12. Restart the browser and check the plug-ins to verify its installation.

Tips & Warnings

• Common browsers like Netscape and Opera do not support ActiveX and you need to install the plug-ins for them as shown above for Mozilla.

• Refresh pages after installation to ensure the plug-in is working properly.

References

• ETI Learning Center: Checking ActiveX Settings
• Princeton University: Java Vs. ActiveX

Resources

• Mozilla Active Project: ActiveX Controls Plugin
• Download XPConnect and LiveConnect