Laptop internet explorer question?

Ok I have a Toshiba laptop and since the beginning of this week I will get on the internet and bring up internet explorer and sign into my IMs. Well either while I'm, on the internet or when I try and get on later that day, The internet explorer page will come up but not go to the homepage..in the adress box it will just say "conneting" and not change or will not respond when I try to x it out. but my IMs will be okay. What could I do about this?