Embedded video & animated GIFs don't play on Z61e

[JLW]

I recently upgraded from a Win2000pro desktop to a Lenovo Z61e with XP.

Now --- in both Firefox and IE --- animated gifs show only the first frame, and embedded flash doesn't show at all. In addition, sites like VistaPrint.com won't let me back in, saying that javscript is not enabled, even tho' it is enabled in both browsers.

All this works on my desktop machines and other laptops.

I'm guessing it has something to do with lenovo-specific security settings, but I don't know.

Anybody else seen this and can point me to a solution? Thnaks.