How to fix Internet Explorer?

Internet explorer freaking out - how to fix?

• The message I get when typing anything new in the address bar to go to ANY website is: "Internet Explorer needs to open a new window to display this webpage. For your computer's security, websites that are in different security zones must open in different windows." I have had NO problems until 2 days ago where all of a sudden this is happening. Out of the blue. I'm thinking either I accidentally hit something, how would my settings change without me changing them? I have tried resetting everything going into the internet properties, to the defaul level. Also I restarted the computer & nothing is working. I DO notice when I hit the explorer icon, that TWO windows come up at the same time. Not sure if this matters but figure if I share everything that has changed, maybe some techie out there will have a quick easy answer. I'm going to see if I can upgrade my explorer, maybe there's a new version & it will automatically fix this weird thing..I used to jump around surfing the net, first reading the newspaper (now a new window opens for that adding another tab instead of just displaying it in the page I entered it in argh!)... then youtube, then after going to about 15 different places, I have FIFTEEN new tabs up!!! I'm SO frustrated!!! HELP!! any help would be much appreciated. If you have a suggestion, please tell me how it's done.

• Answer:

  Apparently, you have inadvertently set your computer to run in "Protected Mode". See the excerpts below: "> Internet Explorer needs to open a new window to display this webpage > For your computer's security, websites that are in different security > zones > must open in different windows. That's default behavior in Vista with IE running in Protected Mode, Rob...." http://www.technologyquestions.com/technology/internet-explorer/211128-internet-explorer-needs-open-new-window-display-webpage.html In the link shown above are two separate Microsoft Technical Links and in one or the other you might find the precise means to turn off this security protocol. Unfortunately, I was not able to find a more clear cut answer even though I went several search pages deep in the Search Results. Good Luck.