I don't think IE7 is compatable with anything prior to Win XP.
Besides no offense but that is the absolute worse os ever created by microsoft. I HIGHLY suggest an upgrade.
Wicked is correct. OS older than XP will not run IE7. I don't know how you got it installed on there if that's the PC you are asking about. And, if it is, get a new PC bro. But, to try to answer the question, you may have some browser add-ons in IE that are screwing things up for you.
Try this:
Tools->Internet Options...->Connections->Settings->
Once you are within the Settings dialog box make sure none of the boxes listed under proxy are checked, unless you use proxy. For some reason IE likes to enable these by itself.