"My Computer" in restricted zone - ActiveX will not enable

sara0101010 · 11-15-2005, 08:45 AM

Having a weird problem with one of the few computers on our work network still running Win2K pro. The regular user "Doug" logged on this morning to find his desktop in it's original post new setup condition. Outlook 2003 was no longer installed, nor was him IM program, etc.

When I tried to open various applications and look at the control panel, I got the message "your current security settings prohibit running activeX controls on this page. As a result, the page may not display correctly." No control panel features or IE would display properly. IE Internet Options setting for space to be used for temp internet files was set at 0 and can't be changed.

I got into Control Panel -> Internet Options -> Security tab and found the My Computer icon listed as the only recognized zone. The My Computer icon is listed as restricted & has the large red restricted zone icon on it. I am unable to lower the security setting or customize the settings to allow activeX.

Here's the weird part - I logged on to Doug's computer as another user and the other user's account is fine! The administrator account is also fine. I ran antivirus, antispyware and a registry cleaner in the admin account and caught nothing alarming. (I can't run anything in Doug's account.)

My only solution is to switch out Doug's computer and another user's, since everyone except for Doug can use his computer without problems.

Any ideas as to what caused this or how to fix it? This one has me baffled!

Thank you very much!

Chevy · 11-18-2005, 09:09 AM

The acounts for Doug and the others - I'm assuming they are Domain Accounts, not accounts local to the workstation?

If so, looks like you've got a rougue/pranskter admin playing with policies.

What happens when Doug logs onto another computer?

sara0101010 · 11-22-2005, 07:32 AM

Hi Chevy, Thank you for your reply. Although Doug's account is local to the work station, I think it is defaulting to a domain account. (I tried removing his local account and recreating it, which had no effect. Then I removed it all together and was still able to log in via the domain account - so I assume this is the default?)

Doug can log into any other computer on the network with no problem. In fact, to work around the problem I switched out his and another user's computers.

Any tips for how to correct this problem or prevent it in the future?

Thanks so much for your time.

11-15-2005, 08:45 AM	#1 (permalink)
sara0101010 Registered User Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 3 OS: xp	"My Computer" in restricted zone - ActiveX will not enable Having a weird problem with one of the few computers on our work network still running Win2K pro. The regular user "Doug" logged on this morning to find his desktop in it's original post new setup condition. Outlook 2003 was no longer installed, nor was him IM program, etc. When I tried to open various applications and look at the control panel, I got the message "your current security settings prohibit running activeX controls on this page. As a result, the page may not display correctly." No control panel features or IE would display properly. IE Internet Options setting for space to be used for temp internet files was set at 0 and can't be changed. I got into Control Panel -> Internet Options -> Security tab and found the My Computer icon listed as the only recognized zone. The My Computer icon is listed as restricted & has the large red restricted zone icon on it. I am unable to lower the security setting or customize the settings to allow activeX. Here's the weird part - I logged on to Doug's computer as another user and the other user's account is fine! The administrator account is also fine. I ran antivirus, antispyware and a registry cleaner in the admin account and caught nothing alarming. (I can't run anything in Doug's account.) My only solution is to switch out Doug's computer and another user's, since everyone except for Doug can use his computer without problems. Any ideas as to what caused this or how to fix it? This one has me baffled! Thank you very much!

11-18-2005, 09:09 AM	#2 (permalink)
Chevy Semi-Retired Manager, Microsoft Support Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Notlob Posts: 5,172 OS: Vista Ultimate My System	The acounts for Doug and the others - I'm assuming they are Domain Accounts, not accounts local to the workstation? If so, looks like you've got a rougue/pranskter admin playing with policies. What happens when Doug logs onto another computer? __________________ “My philosophy, like color television, is all there in black and white” -M. Python Last edited by Chevy : 11-18-2005 at 09:14 AM.

11-22-2005, 07:32 AM	#3 (permalink)
sara0101010 Registered User Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 3 OS: xp	re: my computer in restricted zone/activex won't install prob Hi Chevy, Thank you for your reply. Although Doug's account is local to the work station, I think it is defaulting to a domain account. (I tried removing his local account and recreating it, which had no effect. Then I removed it all together and was still able to log in via the domain account - so I assume this is the default?) Doug can log into any other computer on the network with no problem. In fact, to work around the problem I switched out his and another user's computers. Any tips for how to correct this problem or prevent it in the future? Thanks so much for your time.