How to resolve website rendering problems with IE8

I use IE8. It is the browser that came with the computer. I try to support MS whenever pssible but it is becoming increasingly difficult.

More and more websites are not displaying properly. It may be a blank space where an ad or video player should be. Or it may be complete non functionality such as trying to listen to a PBS radio show using their website.

I can view and use these specific websites just fine when I am on a public computer (which will use IE7 or IE8), so it is clear there is a problem with my IE8. But what? Is it settings? Is it add-ons?

To try and resolve this I have several times reset IE to it's default settings using Tools->Internet Options->Advanced. No help.

Any ideas what I can do or is it time to move to a different browse? And it will not be IE9 because I am sure the problems will just follow me to that browser.

stve said:

Have you Flash, Silverlight & Java plugins installed ?

I do. Actually for IE I believe Java is ActiveX as opposed to plug-in. Not sure on the others, but I have them.

I may have solved at least some of my issues. It involved removing *.doublick.net from Restricted Sites. Why in the world it was there and why removing it fixed things I do not know. But my websites, at least most of them, are displaying properly. This thread at MS Answers and the link led me to it.

An add-on for this website failed to run. Check the security settings - Microsoft Answers

Vista Computer Solutions: "an add on for this website failed to run" Adsense Adchoice Ad sense Ad choice

I still have an issue with the PBS website but I can download the file to play it.

edit: I have another I believe related problem. I get Unknown Zone (Mixed) in the staus bar for certain websites. I think it went away when I first did this fix but now it has come back. It must be related to the ads somehow.

edit2: I determined why *.doubleclick.net was in Restricted Sites. It wasplaced their by SpywareBlaster. I have started another thread under Security. I'd appreciate any feedback.