I'm a fairly experienced user - over 10 years, but everything I've done to resolve this problem has failed.  These include reinstalling the drivers, changing browsers, running on and off line virus scans.
I have narrowed down how to get a solution, hence my post here: When I run IE8 without add ons, the processor runs normal, but I can't get through several other windows to play spades.
The link is here:
http://zone.msn.com/en/spades/default.htm

I'd like to know if anyone else is having the same problem.  (You may need to create a user ID and password.)
I'd like explorer to request the add on it requires one at a time.  Disabling the browsers add ons ironically prevents that.  And I'm not disabling them one at a time while they run, because there are too many, some are required and most need the browsers to be closed before they 'let go' there hooks into IE8.  I'd also would not know what combination of add ons I need if I did this.

The game usually proceeds ok, when it finishes the closing of the window can freeze it.
The Task manager also shows 2 or more instances of internet explorer running, even though I have one window with no active tabs.  If I close the one hogging the CPU, a message pops up in IE8 saying it has recovered the *lost* tab!

I tried using FF to play Spades, but as this is a MSN site I wasn't allowed to play there using Firefox.
This might be something that is happening to anyone playing there, so I don't have to worry if I have some mysterious infection - so let me know if this is the case.
My old computer also has the same behaviour, and the only thing in common is IE8.
Note other web pages run fine and it is fast.

My system:
XP SP3, Geforce 8800 GT, Striker Extreme MB, Intel E6750 Core 2, 2.67 GHz, 4 GB Ram, 2 500 GB HD, one external 1TB eSata connection.  Thats about it.