IE6 cannot display gif files after SP1

I just installed SP1 and the recent security
patches to IE6 on my Win 98 SE computer. Now the gif files of web pages do not display. I get markers with red Xs instead of the pictures.
I do not have the display Show image place holds checked. I dohave the show picture checked in advanced settings. Jpeg files are OK.
Re-istalling IE6 fixes the problem until i re-install the patches.
I have searched the knowledge base but can’t find a reference to this particular problem.
Is this a bug?? How do I report it to Microsoft? Would they even care if I did?