This is taking the piss. Hopefully you can follow this.

I go to install 3ds max 9, it tells me it needs at least IE 6.1 to do this, I go and check and I've got IE 6.0 something. So I go to the Microsoft website and decide to download the new IE7, which needs SP2, which I had never bothered to install. Deciding it was useless resisting anymore I decided to open IE and go to the Microsoft Updates page, going ok until I click on the link /go to updates.microsoft.com IE just stops doing everything I've tried restarting giveing it 10 minutes to see if it can be arsed but it just sits there not responding.

I then downloaded the IE 6 SP1 installed it and restarted all it seemed to do was add IE to my quicklaunch bar I still had 6.0xxxx and it still hung on the updates site. I've taken the multi user option download and I'll see if it works (I had to do this last time I updated DX as well because the DX installer wouldn't work).

With any luck I can install SP2 and then IE7 and get updates back but this is just so retarded, typical microsoft.

(I did check that I had allowed the updates service to run and reset all the IE settings)

I know I am not being helpful and cannot give technical info, but have you considered Firefox or Opera?

Quote from jayhawk :

I know I am not being helpful and cannot give technical info, but have you considered Firefox or Opera?

Quote :

Thank you for your interest in obtaining updates from our site.

To use this site, you must be running Microsoft Internet Explorer 5 or later.

To upgrade to the latest version of the browser, go to the Internet Explorer Downloads website.

If you prefer to use a different web browser, you can obtain updates from the Microsoft Download Center or you can stay up to date with the latest critical and security updates by using Automatic Updates. To turn on Automatic Updates:

1. Click Start, and then click Control Panel.
   
2. Depending on which Control Panel view you use, Classic or Category, do one of the following:
   • Click System, and then click the Automatic Updates tab.
     
   • Click Performance and Maintenance, click System, and then click the Automatic Updates tab.
3. Click the option that you want. Make sure Automatic Updates is not turned off.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Halloween_documents

Oh wow, it is like youre stuck in some weird IE hell.

Why would 3DSmax need IE installed? Is it just something weird in the installer or... /me shrugs

Quote from ajp71 :

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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Halloween_documents

Use the IETab extension for firefox.

Mmmh, does the installer of 3dsmax require IE or does it just say somwhere that it you should have it? In other words, it does not allow you to install 3dsmax because you don't have the proper IE version?

EDIT: nothing (bah)

I just use opera to download the reditributables and never use windows update via IE. Other updates are automatic with the windows update tool that annoys the crap out of you. I updated to IE7 and everytime I close it, it crashes lol Awesome work MS.

Quote from Hyperactive :

Mmmh, does the installer of 3dsmax require IE or does it just say somwhere that it you should have it? In other words, it does not allow you to install 3dsmax because you don't have the proper IE version?

EDIT: nothing (bah)

No the setup program pops up a message saying you need IE 6.1 and closes.

You could try updating through firefox using WindizUpdate