why wont my internet explorer shortcut take me to the internet?

[m l]

i recently bought a refurbished computer (windows xp prof.) it works fine except that when i click on the E for internet explorer it does not take me to the internet. it says "internet explorer cannot display this webpage". my internet is working b/c when i click on the yahoo shortcuts it goes right where it's supposed to(right to yahoo). but when i click on the ie shortcut it does not. what can i do (in lay mans terms please)? thanks so much.