Okay, now we know your problem isn't your network or your ISP etc. I wonder if you've attracted a browser add-on that is messing with IE.

If you care to work this through, go to Tools, Manage Add-ons. You can try disabling some for testing. Here is some of what I've got in IE right now. Notice the button for Show All at the bottom left.

IE works very well for me, as does Firefox. I run both all the time.