Internet Explorer 8

Can somebody help me i’m using windows xp service pack 3 with msn messenger 7.5 and internet explorer 8 however there are things in msn messenger that are not working. Like for example the mail icon when I click on it internet explorer 8 opens and says connecting but nothing happens. And like when messaging somebody internet explorer 8 opens and says connecting but nothing happens. Does anyone know why this is happpening