If your installation Internet Explorer 8 seems a bit sluggish, try this tweak:
FOR WINDOWS XP
1. Click Start, then click Run.
2. In the Run dialog box, type cmd and press Enter.
3. In the Command Prompt window, enter "regsvr32 actxprxy.dll" without the quotes and press Enter.
4. Restart your computer.
FOR WINDOWS VISTA/WINDOWS 7
1. Type cmd in the Start menu Search box.
2. Right-click the Cmd shortcut that appears at the top of the search results list, Under Programs.
4. In the Command Prompt window, enter "regsvr32 actxprxy.dll" without the quotes and press Enter.
5. Restart your computer.
Don't know why it works, but something apparently is sometimes amiss with that dll file registration.