Error Message .... IE8 Not Resonding.

[graham51]

Some help required please.... Some months ago I installed/Upgraded to IE8. Everything fine for a few days then I started to get the IE8 Not Responding message, then would continue for a short while until a repeat of the error message. A more savvy computer friend of mine re-installed IE8. Again fine for a few days then the error messages again. Friend now baffled. I installed Firefox and made it the default browser. Internet use now bril. However now find that when updating Anti-Virus (Norton) or Microsoft Update (Windows) both these Automatic Updates use IE by default rather than my default browser, Firefox. Updates are so slow and it appears that downloads stop for a period of about two to three minutes every 128Kb of data down loaded. The October Windows update took nearly 11 hours to complete.
Could I have a wrong setting somewhere which affects IE8? Have tried disableing AV and some other background software all to no avail.
Laptop is an Acer Extensa 5630 running XP Pro. Have no other computing problems.
Any help would be most welcome. Thank you. Graham.

[TTG]

Do you use Skype? I think an old version of this can slow IE 8 down.

[redman41]

Are all your Microsoft Updates up to date ?
I have had no problems with IE8 since it was downloaded via normal weekly Updates from Microsoft.
There have been 3 or 4 Updates for IE8 since its official release.
I would uninstall it and bring all your Microsoft Updates to date as you may well be using the Beta Version.

[graham51]

My thanks to both of you. Two answers, one each.... 1. Yes, Skype is loaded on the HD but not running unless I click it. Icon is greyed out. 2. All Microsoft update are up to date.
Many thanks for your advice to date.
Graham.