Downloading with IE

Recently, I have been unable to download files on any number of sites. On this site (TechRepublic)I have no problem downloading, but on others when the download supposedly begins, I see a blank page, or a page with a piece of broken film pictured onit, and immediately thereafter the status bars says “done,” though nothing is downloaded. No dialogue boxes show up either.

Any ideas on the source of my problem? At one time I was about to load Go!Zilla, but I became aware that I was really signing up to receive ads until the cows come home, so I declined that installation. I don’t see it anywhere on my system, but who knows?