well those toolbars come with many many programs if you do not read carefully when doing installs or updates including java, flash, and IE, many of them, in fact there is a hall of shame at COU forum listing all of the programs that now include pre selected toolbars in their install, it has nothing to do with the browser you use to do the download or install it has to do with watching what is pre checked when doing your updates or program installs and un checking any for things like toolbars. I have had to clean tons of toolbars off of peoples computers too who had never heard of firefox, only had IE. I tell people to add a second browser because it is a very good idea to always have at least 2 on the pc because as we all know IE can and does fail then leaving them no way to access the internet. Whether they select firefox, chrome or opera, it does not matter but firefox is the best known so when asking for help they will find more people that are familiar with it. All browsers have their pluses and minuses none are perfect and I have never seen anyone here say any one browser is perfect. the point to make to people who have loaded up their pc with toolbars, why this is happening to them, is to watch what they are doing! Pay attention to every single line when doing any type of install. And do not let it add unwanted items, if they are not told how it happened it will happen again. I direct them to this list Installers Hall of Shame (Unwanted add-on)

marie- I have four browsers installed on my computer: Internet Explorer, Firefox, Opera, and Chrome. None of them interfere with one another, even when several of them are simultaneously open. I don't know why you are having some of the problems you describe, but you shouldn't be worrying about having to choose between Firefox and Internet Explorer. They are each discrete programs, just like Word or Notepad are discrete programs. Something else is going on here, or you have accidentally made some unintended changes to Internet Explorer, but it should have nothing to do with having two browsers installed.

unplugging the router and letting it restart will often fix problems like that if they are related to the actual connection. there are so many reasons a browser can hang. but you did not tell us which version of IE you are using and that could make a difference is it 7 or 8? Go into your settings and set it to run with out any of the addons active so you can see if it could be one of the add ons causing the problem. getting a second browser is of course something you should do if you do not have one on the pc, it is always best to have a backup should one fail. Getting firefox and trying it would let you know if it is just a browser problem or if it is coming from your connection or elsewhere, does it happen on both or just IE, helps narrow it down.

Ok, Lets install another browser called Firefox See link. It's ok to have more then 1 and is actually recommend. I use Firefox daily, if I experience an issue like Page cannot be displayed The first thing I do is Open IE and see if that browser will display the web page, if it fails then I have a pretty good Idea the problem is the router or something else. Anytime I suspect a router problem first thing to do is unplug it for a couple mins then plug it back in. It's also true that a simple restart or reboot of the computer can fix many glitches. Others here are quite knowledgeable about DSL and will respond if you cont. to have issues. Good luck installing Firefox, it should be quite simple. Once you do get it installed copy this----> http://ths.gardenweb.com/forums/load/comphelp/msg082038027114.html?2 Paste it into the firefox address bar hit enter and it should bring you back to this thread. Just for a test run.. Here is a link that might be useful: Get firefox here download tab on right side.