I've have an old desktop running XP Home with SP3 which I'm giving to a friend. The reason I stopped using it was because after a move from Orange to BT Internet it wouldn't run any downloads.
I have managed to rectify the 3rd party download problem (e.g. downloaded AVG + updates, Belarc, CCleaner), but it refuses to download Microsoft updates using MIcrosoft Update. I get a message "Install the ActiveX control required to view the website". and immediately comes up with a new screen with "webpage not found".

Thinking their might be a problem with the browser, I downloaded and tried to install IE8, but get a message stating that Cryptographic Services may be stopped - it wasn't, tried a google suggestion to re-name the C:\Windows\System32\catroot2 stop the Cryptographic Service, and re-start.
Still couldn't install IE8, but the Microsoft Update came up "Install the ActiveX control required to view the website". and this time allowed me to click the info bar and select install active x". It then comes up with webpage not found".

Any suggestions gratefully received.

Thanks

Rannoch

I've have an old desktop running XP Home with SP3 which I'm giving to a friend.

I am not one to readily recommend a format and reinstall, but you said you are giving this machine away - so perhaps you should just gather up all the drivers, the XP installation disk and do a fresh format and reinstall of Windows. That should take care of any malware issue (which this sounds like it could be) and it will ensure there is no personal data on the machine you don't need out of your control.

Hi Digerati,

I fear you are right.
I was trying to avoid that so as to retain some software which was on the machine, but I think it will cause more bother than it's worth.

Thanks for your advise.

Rannoch

I was trying to avoid that so as to retain some software which was on the machine

And if that software is registered or licensed to you, then NOT removing it would be a copyright violation - so it is always best to "wipe" a drive when getting rid of it, not only to protect your data, but to keep everyone legal.

Note a "wipe" is used to totally obliterate any previously stored data so there is no chance of recovery, accidental or otherwise. You may consider Eraser for that.