1. Very strange, that stall. Try making a shortcut on the desktop pointing to the IE you click on from Explorer. If that works as you like (and why shouldn't it?), delete that damned icon from the systray and copy your own icon to it. Or just delete it and remember to run IE from your own icon on the desktop.
2. The text is easy, probably not a preplexing problem at all. It's contained in one registry key. Run regedit, search for 'provided by America Online', and change the text (once found) in whatever you like. I think it's the value of the key 'Window Title' (right pane) of HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main (left pane), so you can browse directly to it. No great risk, I've done it myself, for the same reason (albeit another source) as you.
3. I don't know about the logo (don't even know which logo you mean), but it might be in the registry also. Look around in HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Internet Explorer for something related to AOL. Always change one thing at a time, and write down the old value for easy recovery. It might be useful to compare the settings with another computer.
It could be 'hardcoded' also, but somehow I don't think so.
If you really mess up the registry, post again for help on scanreg /restore.
Kees
I am running Windows 98SE and MS Internet Explorer. A problem developed where if I start IE from the icon, it stalls at each new website for a couple of minutes and then is OK. However, if you click on something that creates a new website, it stalls again.
If I start IE from Windows Explorer by moving down the tree and clicking on IE then it works fine with no stalling.
All the software is up to date with the latest revisions from MS.
One other problem is that a long time ago I installed AOL to try and now the AOL logo ends up in the upper right hand corner when search is finished and it says "Microsoft Internet Explorer provided by America Online" across the top bar. I would like to get rid of that too.
Perplexing problems ... I would appreciate some help. Thanks

Chowhound
Comic Vine
GameFAQs
GameSpot
Giant Bomb
TechRepublic