Robert_Charlton - 7:38 am on Oct 26, 2010 (gmt 0)

Thanks for your quick replies. The only updates I've done were the recent MS security updates for Windows XP, SP3, Office, etc. I've learned not to argue with them and just let them install. That way it's only grief every year or two (like now) instead of at every update.

Just tried MOTW... which seemed to be the less restrictive option so I tried it first... and talk about obscure bits of effective information, this is like the Mark of Zorro on steroids. ;)

Works like a charm. Thank you!

Mark of the Web
MSDN Library
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms537628(VS.85).aspx [msdn.microsoft.com]

The Mark of the Web (MOTW) is a feature of Windows Internet Explorer that enhances security by enabling Internet Explorer to force Web pages to run in the security zone of the location the page was saved from—as long as that security zone is more restrictive than the Local Machine zone—instead of the Local Machine zone. The role of the MOTW is more prominent with Microsoft Internet Explorer 6 for Windows XP Service Pack 2 (SP2) because of increased security restrictions in the Local Machine zone. When you are developing Web content, the MOTW enables you to test your active HTML documents in the security zone where you intend the pages to run. Adding the MOTW to your Web pages also enables you to fully test their compatibility with users' security settings.

I don't know why I haven't seen this problem with local pages before now.