Why does my internet browser keep closing?

[Carling]

Quote : Is there any hope for this laptop?
Reply : There is more hope for your old computer than there is for a new windows 8 computer.

Quote : Any ideas what it can be and how I can fix this?
Reply : Yes stop using windows and learn that windows and Mac are NOT the only computer operating system in the world. There are other Free computer operating systems available that are faster, Superior and far more advanced than Mac 7.1 or windows 8.1 are.

You can check them out here.
Zorin Linux will let you have any windows desktop at the click of the mouse button, you can have Vista, Xp, win 7 or the Mac OS/x desktop plus other desktops you have never seen before. go to their website, do the tour of the operating system and software
http://zorin-os.com

here are some other free operating systems that will run on your old computer these are up to date November 2013

http://sparkylinux.org/download
http://www.centrych.org/
http://www.os4online.com/
PC Linux have a monthly Magazine that can be downloaded with loads of tutorials on how to use it
http://www.pclinuxos.com/
http://www.opensuse.org/
http://www.kubuntu.org/
http://antix.mepis.com/
http://www.knoppix.org/
http://solydxk.com/

Now you know that MS and Mac are not the only computer operating systems in the world