MIDI file cause plug-in error

I have attempted to click on MIDI files on a number of different web sites but every time I get the Plug-in Error box w/ "An error occurred inside a plug-in contained on this page.". Then the browser closes and asks if I want to report this to Microsoft. I then have to re-start the browser.

This is a new occurrence because I was able to open these MIDI files previously.

This happens with my three services: Comcast using IE6; Compuserve uses IE6 AND Firefox using Mozilla! I have not added any new hardware and only software update was to Adobe Photoshop Album.

On one site the MIDI files were also in a ZIP file which I was able to download OK and then I could play them just fine on the computer. But if I try to open any MIDI file from any WEB page, I get the error and browser shutdown.

To try and fix this, I did a virus scan with Norton-nothing found. I used CCleaner, Ad-Aware; SpyBot; and Registry Booster but none of these fixed the problem.

Although I consider myself an experienced user, I AM NOT very good at system functions so I DO NOT touch the registry at all. I am at a loss to figure this out. I have not tried a system restore to a previous date yet because I wanted to see if I could find out what caused this.

MY system is HP pavilion a450n WinXP SP2 2GB ram. Internet connection is with cable via Comcast. I use ZoneLabs firewall and Norton Anti-virus. Any advice is appreciated.
Dave

 

Chuck
I'm not sure. In IE6 if I go to TOOLS and then to Internet Options, there is nothing under that which refers to a MIDI file. The same in Mozilla under Tools/Options. Maybe I'm not looking in the right place or don't know exactly what to look for.
When I open one of the MIDI songs that I had downloaded to the computer in the ZIP file, it opens with Windows Media Player and plays OK.
Dave

 

There are 3 MIDI sequence files listed and all three use "Open with Quick Time Plug-in 6.1c. This is probably the same for IE6
Dave

 

Well Chuck,
I don't know what gives, but I did an update to my Quicktime and tried that, but when it oppened a MIDI file there was no sound! I also lost control of my volume in the tray.
So I did a restore system to Mar.1 2008 but that failed, WTF. I restrarted the system and got my volume control back and now the QuickTime plays MIDI files in all my browsers.
So all is working again but I don't know why.
Thanks for the assist.
Dave