IE 8

Hi, Internet Explorer can't connect to the internet, but Mozilla Firefox can. I wasn't connected to the internet earlier because the provider was having trouble with it in my area.  Then the internet went back up and now internet explorer doesn't connect. Mozilla Firefox can connect to the itnernet though.  It was working fine about 1 week ago on Sunday.  I think that it might be malware. Can anyone help me?

Screenshots:

Strange. And I can't attach any screenshots or upload images to imageshack.

Restarted my computer and I still can't.

Also, the task bar where the start menu button is always freezes when the computer starts up.  It never did this before.  Its been freezing since some weeks ago. Maybe months.