Computer help forum: Requested lookup key as not found

Made by ABC Computers in S.CA; Custom Order
Runs on XP Professional, Version 2002-SP2-384 RAM; 501 MHz
It is 10 years old and was running well before the error messages began but it was slow.
Spybot and AdAware were used regularly and run recently.Those utilities worked fine today booted from their shortcuts but I cannot enter Mcafee, Norton or similar adresses in the address bar or Google a word or phrase without getting the error messages-"requested lookup key was not found in any active activation context".
The McAfee Security Center shortcut loads a blank page but scheduled scans have run supposedly detecting problems but have had no report from that process.
Internet is by Verzon DSL

I have not upgraded to IE7 unless it happened automatically. I cannot find for sure something to tell me what version is running.
When I try to execute Windows or Microsoft updates from the start panel, I get the same old message.
Thank you for your thought and suggestions.
My new computer is working fine on the currnt Verizon DSL.

THANKS. I SHOULD HAVE KNOWN. I AM USING VERSION 6.
IS THERE A WAY TO UNINSTALL AND REINSTALL INTERNET EXPLORER OR FIX IT?

I typed sfc/scannow without quotations marks into Run and no program could be found.
I searched both hard drives and no file of that name was found.
I searched the windows XP installation disc in Drive D putting D:\sfc/scannow into run and it was not found.
I searched the disc in drive D and no file by that name was found.
Thanks again even if I'm not getting a result.
Any other thoughts?

Go to Start > All Programs > Accessories > Command Prompt > type exactly or copy and past into the Command Prompt window "sfc /scannow" w/o the quotes. NOTE that there is a space between sfc and /scannow. Then press Enter. sfc /scannow [should] begin within a moment or two.

Hope this is helpful.

Charlie

Rich, I only ever get this message after I have run a repair install of XP over the top of a machine that is fully patched and has IE7 installed. It is possible you automatically got IE7 installed since it was released via Automatic Updates. The reapir install of XP corrupts the IE7 install and leaves some mutant hybrid IE6/IE7 "thing" behind that will not allow you to manually go to any other sites. This reinstall causes many other issues as well.

To overcome this error message, close IE. Go to Control Panel. First open Security Center > Automatic Updates > Turn OFF Auto Updates. Then go to Internet Options > and change your home page to http://update.microsoft.com > OK.

Launch IE. It will go to the update site. Install all automatic update software (install Active-X control), then click EXPRESS. Download any and all updates. Reboot if necessary. Then return to your home page in IE (update.microsoft.com). Click EXPRESS once again. You will be buried in 70-100 updates. Apply them ALL. One of them will be Internet Explorer 7. This will repair your browser and eliminate this error, as well as many other problems you are having.

Let us know how it goes!

Well done and you're welcome. It's about time I gave back. Glad we could nail it.

Worked for me too. Thank you..

Thank you so much xohmyheadx! This worked like a charm! You r a rockstar!!!!