.XML files no longer open in Internet Explorer

I took these steps, not necessarily in this order & rebooting in between steps:

removed KB2929437
removed KB2964358
installed KB2925418
installed KB2936068
installed KB2964444

Checked if XML opened in IE. No joy, which indicated the problem was not with the updates. Changed file association to Firefox, opened OK. Reset default XML assoc back to IE. No joy. Reset IE browser settings to default. Nojoy. Removed/reinstalled IE from CPL> Turn on/off. No joy. Finally ran SFC (which I probably should have done first, then again hindsight= 20/20) which repaired:

014-05-03 02:09:46, Info CSI 00000337 [SR] Repairing corrupted file [ml:520{260},l:88{44}]"\??\C:\Program Files (x86)\Internet Explorer"\[l:34{17}]"ie9props.propdesc" from store

2014-05-03 02:11:07, Info CSI 0000043e [SR] Repairing corrupted file [ml:520{260},l:88{44}]"\??\C:\Program Files (x86)\Internet Explorer"\[l:34{17}]"ie9props.propdesc" from store
2014-05-03 02:11:07, Info CSI 00000440 [SR] Repair complete
2014-05-03 02:11:07, Info CSI 00000441 [SR] Committing transaction
2014-05-03 02:11:07, Info CSI 00000445 [SR] Verify and Repair Transaction completed. All files and registry keys listed in this transaction have been successfully repaired

Opened in IE and all was well.

Go figure?

Relating to an automotive owner's manual on a DVD... A friend of mine was trying to view XML on his PC with the Win 7 OS... no luck. I installed Win Virtual PC XP mode on his Win 7 PC, which has IE7. Then I forget exactly which program it was some sort of CGM Active X plug-in while in the XP mode, and the problem was solved. This post is an after thought, and that is why I do not have the specifics. I'll try and find which CGM Active X program it was.