Mmm... the same happens to me with IE5 and win98, with the homepage (not with the forums). I read the headlines with the only way I could find:
Create a text file with a link to the homepaga, save the page with the right mouse button menu, and read it from harddisk.
Couldn't reinstall IE to test if it was my machine. From home I have no problems (I have win2000 also)
Another thing: look at
www.massassi.net and try if it works, I couldn't read it either