Could be where you got your version of Internet Explorer from Mistral.

Is it certified directly from Microsoft or are you running a plugged in copy from someone else?

It also greatly depends on how IE's plugged in, patched and currently updated.

All I ever use is IE and never had a single problem with it since it was developed in '92. 

If you have a copy from let's say Google, cNet or your local cable provider's version, go to Microsoft and get an authentic certified version of IE.  Second party IE versions and their proprietary menu plug-in's are total crap and will get buggy.

When you install any software and it asks you to select their FREE IE plug-in for your menu, refuse it!  Sometimes by default it's already checked.  Stay away from these type of plug-in's because they're usually crap too.

Once IE runs it's install and updates it should be fine after reboot.  I've been using Windowblinds for 6 years as well and I can honestly say that the issue you're having with IE isn't related.  Accept browser updates from Microsoft only.

Tons of luck to ya, hope this helped a bit.  And if I'm wrong, I'll humbly retract this entire statement.

Cp

Ok I'm following you here Mistral. 

Now, have you plugged in or enhanced IE with any 3rd party personal menus?  That's a bad thing if it is.

Or are you running IE by straight default?  If this is the case, then it's a possible settings issue in the IE advanced options.  Did you look to see how IE acted without customization software first?

Also are you current with your Vista service packs after your 3 clean installs?  Then there's all the updates for security patches, is your system and IE up to date?

I'm asking because I run IE on both Vista and XP, and both are running flawlessly with no known global issues.  And I take great pain to make sure they stay this way.  This means lots of updates and maintenance almost daily.

You're experiencing a personal problem and looking for answers in your customization software.  I don't think that's it.  You're loading up something that's making your IE browser act buggy, and you've done 3 clean OS installs, so what is it?

I'm just knocking around a few ideas that you may want to look into to pinpoint and isolate what the problem really is.  My feeling is, if there's something annoying that's happening on my system, then something's wrong and it needs to be addressed, then fixed immediately.  I hate and don't do work-arounds.

Again, best of luck to you!