1. Here are the items you mention which are not clear:
a. I am suddenly seeing red x's on two websites that I have always viewed and now more frequently I am seeing the IE banner of Page Cannot be Displayed on some webpages.
We need to ascertain whether it's the page delivery from the site or your computer, which we cannot do without having access to the page(s) - URLs?
2. The article [Q316894] describes and offers troubleshooting tips in the following areas, of which there are three other parts covering other important items:
a. I get a message saying "The page cannot be displayed".
b. Web pages don't show pictures or play sound.
c. My browser doesn't start at the page I want.
d. Web sites don't remember me.
e. Internet Explorer crashes.
f. I get a message saying "You are not authorized to view this page".
g. I need to view a Web page when I can't go on line.
b. The latter seems to be taking the place of advertisements but it still bothers me that I don't know why this is happening.
Advertisements? Is the page error mentioned on these same sites or is that an overall statement that it simply happens sometimes when surfing? To me this would indicate site access such as a redirect rather than an advertisement, but I could be wrong.
c. I have sort of narrowed it down to it being a Windows Update, the use of the SpyBot or Microsoft AntiSpy Beta. Just a hunch but it seems around the same time I began using those programs that I noticed the x's and pages not displaying properly.
As you suspect, there are several pieces of software which assist users when browsing that may have options to set that circumvent redirects or even displays but I cannot specifically advise you of which since I do not rely on any. Best bet is to safely deactivate those which you suspect to see if the anomaly still takes place.
3. The article [Q325192] discusses and describes know issues that may occur after installing certain Updates to Internet Explorer or Windows. Please review the content of this article to see whether the described issue you've reported could be linked to anything there.
4. Access the "Windows Update site" and click "View installation history" in the left frame to ascertain your system update information.
d. Please note: I can pull up the full pages; but various sections have those errors on them. I have checked with other people that use the same ISP as I do and they can view the sites just fine. Am I overlooking something?
5. When visiting Web sites, add-ons (software components) may be downloaded automatically, you may be prompted to download add-ons, or you may be directed to visit a Web site to obtain the latest add-on. These components may be third-party ActiveX controls that extend browser functionality or that provide special user interface elements in IE. The article [Q883256] describes how to control add-ons by using the Manage Add-ons feature of SP2, describes how to use and how to troubleshoot its features.
6. Enhanced Browsing Security, "Changes to Functionality in Microsoft Windows XP Service Pack 2."
7. "How to troubleshoot problems accessing secure Web pages with Internet Explorer 6 Service Pack 2 (Q870700)."
8. "Test your ActiveX Installation."
9. The article [Q319585] covers all operating systems (OS), discusses the situation when certain software such as ActiveX updates are incomplete, and describes troubleshooting procedures which may correct the problem(s).
10. The article [Q310312] states the Disk Cleanup tool helps you free up space on your hard disk by searching your disk for files that you can safely delete. You can choose to delete some or all of the files as follows:
? Remove temporary Internet files.
? Remove downloaded program files. For example, ActiveX controls and Java applets that are downloaded from the Internet.
? Empty the Recycle Bin.
? Remove Windows temporary files.
? Remove optional Windows components that you are not using.
? Remove installed programs that you no longer use.
Note: If you start the Disk Cleanup utility and click the Disk Cleanup tab, a System Restore: Obsolete Data Stores entry may be available. These are files that were created before reformatting or reinstalling Windows and are obsolete and can safely be deleted. If you choose to cleanup and delete these files, this option does not show again.
11. The article [Q878461] discusses the solution to correct a problem when you open an HTML file in a program after you install SP2 that one of the following issues may occur, and is caused by the default enhanced security feature set in the system registry that helps protect your computer from attacks by malicious users or by malicious software such as computer viruses:
? You receive a script error message when you view the HTML file in a Windows-based program.
? You receive an ActiveX error message when you view the HTML file in a Windows-based program.
? When you open the HTML file in Microsoft Internet Explorer, pictures do not appear the way that you expect.
12. Supplemental reading:
a. "Appendix B - Troubleshooting Strategy for resolving problems in Internet Explorer v6.x" -- heavy concerning ActiveX
b. "Chapter 4 - Security Zones Internet Explorer v6.x" - TechNet article.
c. "Windows XP error installing Macromedia Flash Player ActiveX control."
e. I've seen some references to fixes in the Registry Editor but I'm too much of a novice to go in there comfortably.
Jump in with both feet and get wet. Otherwise, it's time to put out the bucks and let somebody else do it.
Description of the Microsoft Windows Registry (Q256986) - all MS operating system versions, and "How To Use the Windows XP and Windows Server 2003 Registry Editor Features (Q310426)."
1. The Registry Editor is an advanced tool for viewing and changing settings in the system registry. Windows stores configuration information in a database (the registry) organized in a tree format. Although the Registry Editor enables inspection and modifying, it is normally not necessary.
Note: The two most important things to know are that the system registry copies changes immediately and there is no Undo command. The editor does not wait for a Save to be issued since it does not have one, therefore making changes permanent as they happen -- you make a change it's gone forever unless you remember it or have already backed up a copy. Use the editor sparingly and soberly, and do not leave it open unnecessarily.
2. The article [Q318159] explains that when a registry hive becomes damaged, your computer may become unbootable, and you may receive one of the following Stop error messages on a blue screen. Damage often occurs when programs with access to the registry do not cleanly remove temporary items that they store in the registry. This problem may also be caused if a program is terminated or experiences a user-mode fault -- one created by the user:
Unexpected Shutdown
Stop:0xc0000135
3. The article [Q307545] describes how to recover a Windows XP system that does not start because of corruption in the registry and assumes that normal recovery methods have failed and access to the system is not available except by using Recovery Console. If an Automatic System Recovery (ASR) backup exists, it is the preferred method for recovery and it is recommended that you use the ASR backup before utilizing this procedure. This procedure does not guarantee full recovery of the system to a previous state; however, you should be able to recover data when used.
4. Supplemental reading:
a. "Prevent Regedit.exe from Using the Last State (Q244004)."
b. "The Registry Keys and Values for the System Restore Utility (Q295659)" describes certain keys pertaining to System Restore which must not be edited under any circumstances.
c. "HOW TO: Back Up, Edit, and Restore the Registry in Windows XP (Q322756)."