Windows cannot update

Archived from groups: microsoft.public.windowsxp.hardware (More info?)

Hi.
A friend on mine was having problems getting updates for Windows and for
the McAfee software
she installed. It keeps coming up with ActiveX controller needs to be
enabled. At first we thought it was a problem with McAfee. But in Internet
tools, Security I've set EVERYTHING to enabled and still have the problem.
The other thing that keeps happening is that the windows update is
constantly
prompting for her to install the same update. It goes through the whole
process and says successful but still pops up a few minutes later prompting
her to install again.
The other thing is that when we try and go to Update Windows thru' either
the Internet drop down menu, or through the Start, Help way, a message says
we're not connected to the internet, although we clearly are.
If we try to go to any of the Microsoft update pages, we get 'The page
cannot
be displayed' syndrome. That is with anything that needs updating, office
etc.
All other pages comes up fine.
Any suggestions PLEASE
J