windowsupdate.microsoft.com returns a blank page

I am using Windows 2000 Pro SP 4 and for several months now the START >
WINDOWS UPDATE repeatedly fails to perform its job. Yes, Internet Explorer
6 launches, and yes http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com/ is in the address
bar of IE 6. But no visible page appears. When I right mouse click and
choose VIEW SOURCE, I find the following:

Windows Update uses ActiveX Controls and active scripting to display content
correctly and to determine which updates apply to your computer.
<br>
<A
href="http://v4.windowsupdate.microsoft.com/en/dialog_learnabout.asp?topic=0
&amp;noscripting=true">Tell me about active scripting and ActiveX
controls</a>
</p>
<p><b>To view and download updates for your computer, Windows Update should
be listed as a Trusted Site in Internet Explorer.</b></p>
<p><b>To add Windows Update to the trusted sites zone:</b>
<ol>
<li>On the <b>Tools</b> menu in Internet Explorer, click <b>Internet
Options</b>.
<li>Click the <b>Security</b> tab.
<li>Click the Trusted Sites icon, and then click <b>Sites..</b>.
<li>Uncheck the "require server verification" checkbox.
<li>Make sure the following URLs are listed in the Web Sites list box:
<ul>
<li>http://*.windowsupdate.microsoft.com
<li>http://*.windowsupdate.com

Problem is...all of the security and privacy settings are set to DEFAULT,
PLUS I have already added the two domains to my Trusted Sites. Yet in spite
of all this, I keep getting the above results.

1) Why can't I even READ this error message from within IE? Why must I have
to use NOTEPAD to view the error result?

2) Why doesn't my web browser go to the correct page?

Thanks.

Phil

P.S. And no, I am not using any anti-virus software, nor am I using a
software firewall.

On Mon, 12 Sep 2005 23:39:32 -0400, "Phil" <> wrote:

>I am using Windows 2000 Pro SP 4 and for several months now the START >
>WINDOWS UPDATE repeatedly fails to perform its job. Yes, Internet Explorer
>6 launches, and yes http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com/ is in the address
>bar of IE 6. But no visible page appears. When I right mouse click and
>choose VIEW SOURCE, I find the following:
>
>Windows Update uses ActiveX Controls and active scripting to display content
>correctly and to determine which updates apply to your computer.
><br>
><A
>href="http://v4.windowsupdate.microsoft.com/en/dialog_learnabout.asp?topic=0
>&amp;noscripting=true">Tell me about active scripting and ActiveX
>controls</a>
></p>
><p><b>To view and download updates for your computer, Windows Update should
>be listed as a Trusted Site in Internet Explorer.</b></p>
><p><b>To add Windows Update to the trusted sites zone:</b>
><ol>
><li>On the <b>Tools</b> menu in Internet Explorer, click <b>Internet
>Options</b>.
><li>Click the <b>Security</b> tab.
><li>Click the Trusted Sites icon, and then click <b>Sites..</b>.
><li>Uncheck the "require server verification" checkbox.
><li>Make sure the following URLs are listed in the Web Sites list box:
> <ul>
> <li>http://*.windowsupdate.microsoft.com
> <li>http://*.windowsupdate.com
>
>Problem is...all of the security and privacy settings are set to DEFAULT,
>PLUS I have already added the two domains to my Trusted Sites. Yet in spite
>of all this, I keep getting the above results.
>
>1) Why can't I even READ this error message from within IE? Why must I have
>to use NOTEPAD to view the error result?
>
>2) Why doesn't my web browser go to the correct page?
>
>Thanks.
>
>Phil
>
>P.S. And no, I am not using any anti-virus software, nor am I using a
>software firewall.
>
>
>
Click Start, Settings, Control Panel, Internet Options, "Security" Tab, click "Internet",
"Custom Level" button. Locate the 'ActiveX controls and plug-ins' category.
Enable the 'Run ActiveX controls and plug-ins', and enable the 'Script ActiveX controls marked
as safe for scripting'


Click Start, Settings, Control Panel, Internet Options, "Security" Tab, click "Internet",
"Custom Level" button. Reset to "Medium", click the "Reset" button and "OK" your way out.

Click Start, Settings, Control Panel, Internet Options, "Security" Tab, click "Trusted sites",
"Custom Level" button. Reset to "Low", click the "Reset" button and "OK" your way out.


Windows Update Troubleshooter
http://v4.windowsupdate.microsoft.com/troubleshoot/

1. Open Internet Explorer, click Tools, click Internet Options, click Connections, click LAN
Settings. Uncheck "Automatically Detect Settings" and "Use Automatic configuration script"

2. Also in the Internet options, General tab, click the "Delete files" Button, to Clear all
temp files, including off-line content, click the "Delete Cookies..." button.


Problems When Viewing or Downloading From Windows Update
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=193385

> Click Start, Settings, Control Panel, Internet Options, "Security" Tab,
click "Internet",
> "Custom Level" button. Locate the 'ActiveX controls and plug-ins'
category.
> Enable the 'Run ActiveX controls and plug-ins', and enable the 'Script
ActiveX controls marked
> as safe for scripting'

> Click Start, Settings, Control Panel, Internet Options, "Security" Tab,
click "Internet",
> "Custom Level" button. Reset to "Medium", click the "Reset" button and
"OK" your way out.

> Click Start, Settings, Control Panel, Internet Options, "Security" Tab,
click "Trusted sites",
> "Custom Level" button. Reset to "Low", click the "Reset" button and "OK"
your way out.


I did all of the above. Still...same problem. Not a thing has changed.