ActiveX Error Message...Unable To Open Anything

I am trying to help an elderly man whose computer is doing some very strange things. He has an HP Pavilion model # XG833 running Windows ME {ugh!}. If I click on the “Start” button, the program list does not open or expand. If I click on “My computer”, I get the error message: “ Your current security settings prohibit running ActiveX controls on this page. As a result, the page may not display correctly”. If I try to explore C drive, all I get in the right-hand window, rather than files or folders, is one line of text which reads: %DirectoryPath%.

If I try to run Norton speed Disk, it says that there are problems and I should run Norton Disk Doctor, which will not run either displaying the “ActiveX” error message, which is displayed when trying to open almost anything.

I do not have the Recovery Disk and was considering a format/reinstall with Windows XP. But, I was hoping there might be another solution first.

If anyone has any suggestions, I would appreciate them. The Internet is about 80% of his day and he is lost without it.

Thanks,

Jeff

Can you open IE?

If you can, go to tools/internet options/settings/view objects.

Delete all that do not say installed.

Also, try to boot to safe mode......try a repair on IE.

Can you get into add/remove programs? I would remove anything that looks remotely like junk or spyware. Then maybe run adaware/spybot. If you can try start button then run/msconfig. If anything looks like it shouldn't be running at startup remove each one and reboot after each removal.
Is this dial-up or dsl/cable internet?

He just called and said his daughter, who is computer savvy, just found the 3 CD Recovery Set. They are about to run through the recovery/restore process.

Thanks Guys!

Jeff