Problems browsing secure sites and updating virus scan

[Trizzay]

Hey guys, hopefully someone has some tips I can try. I'm working on a family members pc and it is having a couple of issues. Whenever I try to connect to a secure site with IE, I get a page cannot be displayed error. I installed Firefox and I'm able to browse ssl sites just fine with that browser. The main problem with that though, is that Windowsupdate.com requires you to use internet explorer, so I'm not able to get any updates installed. Everytime I connect to Windowsupdate it says my security settings prohibit running ActiveX controls, although my settings look fine. I verified everything was in my Trusted Sites, and I'm still having the problem.

Another issue that I think is probably related deals with the Virus Scan. I installed McAfee, but everytime it goes out to do product updates, it just sits there and is never able to download anything. I'm assuming that it is trying to connect to a secure site, so it is having the same problem.

I've run full scans with Adaware and Spybot and cleaned everything up. I suspect there is some kind of Spyware that is causing this but I havent been able to track it down. If anyone has run into a similar problem and has suggestions I would be very thankful!

 

[mechBgon]

Is the time and date correct on the system, for starters? What's the Security level for the Internet zone set to?

 

[clarkey]

Try changing Internet Security Settings rather than trusted site. I ran into similar thing yesterday with XP SP2.
This might be redundant, but I will list any way. Open IE, goto Tools -> Internet Options -> security tab -> Click on Internet then click Custom Level. Change Active X controlls to Enable (or Prompt).

As for McAfee, I use Norton and have troubles getting it to connect unless I go to the Control Panel and change the Live Update options.

Hope this helps.