Keep getting a message that IE needs to close
1. search IE for a solution
2. close IE
Then I have to start any emails I am trying to send all over again

Have you tried downloading another browser such as Mozilla Firefox?
Some people use this browser because of the trouble they have with IE.

Mozilla | Firefox web browser & Thunderbird email client (http://www.mozilla.com/en-US/)

If you really like IE, you can remove it and then download it again from Firefox. Reinstalling may solve your problem.