you need to update your java
http://www.java.com/en/download/help/java_update.xml
Configure Java Updates
a.Automatic Update Feature
Note: This feature is available only on Windows XP, 2003, 2000 (SP2 or higher) and set by default for these operating systems.
1.Click Start > Settings > Control Panel.
2.Double-click Java icon. The Java Control Panel appears.
3.Click the Update tab.
Note: The Update tab may not be available if your network administrator has disabled the Java Update feature during installation.
4.To enable Java Update to automatically check for updates, select the Check for Updates Automatically check box.
5.To disable Java Update, un-select the Check for Updates Automatically check box.
do this to get the best out of IE and shut up firefox.
IE8
If you havent got IE8, download it from filehippo.com. Select the correct one to suit XP or Vista. Its as fast and as presentable as Firefox.. When you install IE8 it will automatically uninstall the existing IE, so if you having problems you can try re-installing it, but first try this.
Set up IE/8 so it runs efficiently. (2 minutes)
1. In IE, Click Tools >Internet Options >Advance Tab. Click Restore advance settings defaults button. Then scroll the listings down to near the bottom and select >Tick empty temp files when browser closes (this empties the cache, which if not empty, will stop you from going online and hassles msn)
2. Ensure only one phishing filter program, and only one firewall program is used on the computer. Disable others that may be in other software, or disable the browser phishing filter.
Ie8 - to disable the phishing filter click Tools > scroll down to SmartScreen filter and disable it. (leave it on is preferred) SmartScreen filter will stop malicious code from being installed to your computer, specially through activex, however it may be doubling up with your internet security program so causing your browser to be a little slower. So either disable it in the browser or disable it in your internet security program.
3. Then in IE8 click the blue drop arrow near the search icon (top RHS corner) >manage search providers >make the one you want default >then remove all the others listed. These really slow IE8 so remove them.
4 Click Tools >manage add ons > accelerators and disable all of them.
5 Get rid of any toolbars on the menu line. Place the curser near the top under the address bar and right click. Tick Menu bar, Status Bar, and Command bar. Untick any other listed.
6 Then Click Tools >Delete Browser History, cookies, add ons, the whole lot. Do this regularly.Close the browser to set the settings.
Reboot and then do a windows express updates until no more updates. This seems to help IE8.
After you have used IE8 and happy with it, then you can experiment with the accelerators in manage add ons, and also experiment with the selections on the menu bar (5 above)
IE8 has nice coloured tabs and if you see some text you like swipe it and a blue arrow shows, click it and you can select a function. These functions will change as you add accelerators. eg you may add Wiki or a medical site etc.