I think my computer is getting old  

Hi!
Well, I am not sure what is your question here :P
But I have to tell you one thing: forget the IE 8! or 8, 7 , 6 , 5 , 4 , or EVEN 10!LOL
Please use mozzila firefox - a much lighter, faster and trustable browser.
If bye some reason you don´t like it (i am not seing one, but...) you still have opera browser. They are both better than IE and they don´t steal information for you...
Even so, I also have the new IE because some programs (generally from microsoft..go figure!) only work with internet explorer.
Another software I recommend:
Install other media player. Forget the windows media player. It consumes too much memory. I have more that one, but my advice goes to winamp. You will notice the difference in music quality.
There are also two programs that I use in this last years. When I change computer it´s the first thing I install:

CCCLEANER: http://www.ccleaner.com/

MARCO VELASCO REGISTRY CLEANER: http://superdownloads.uol...

Both of the has the possibility of backup, so you can go back if something is wrong.

Of course, the first thing ever you should install it's a good anti-virus :)

Wow. It has lasted you quite some time. I hope you can get you a new computer soon. I tried the IE 8 and it did not work well with my computer at all. I am using version 6. It works alot better.

IE7 is fine, and so far there are about 35% of the internet user are using it. The browser actually dont make much different, most probably is due to the computer and connection speed. For me, i prefer Firefox than IE8, and i heard that google chrome are even faster but never try on it.

Frankly speaking, the hardware develop too far, my laptop was the latest technology when i purchase it 3 years ago but now seem this model no more at the market

Mine has a sticker on it saying it was built in 2004, and i guess it was top of the line back then, because it still handles everything I throw at it. The only thing thats given me any problems is gaming on the older video card.

I must confess I am a novice so all I could understand is that you need a new computer.so I want to wish you luck.I need myown computer too. all I do know is that I am a Pc , not a Mac.

Congrats on the new laptop! Regardless of how we upgrade them, we still need to buy a new one in the end. My current desktop is my third. The last two were lost against time and couldn't be upgraded anymore.

I haven't used IE for quite a while. Since I've been using Firefox, I've been addicted to it. There's also a browser from Google, Chrome. Have you try it?