Windows vista .exe issues?

everytime i go to open internet explorer or note pad or anything really a window pops up asking what program i wish to open the file with it gives options like adobe acrobat reader, paint, internet explorer (yes it gives me the option to open internet explorer in internet explorer). now when i try to open internet explorer and the window comes up if i hit cancle it will open up IE but when i open up note pad if i click cancle it opens up IE and takes me to my home page but if i click ok and try to open notepad up in some program, a download box comes up asking if i want to run or save the file if i click run the same window pops up asking what program i wanna run the file in and the loop starts over. i managed to disable an addon (sun microsystems java plug in 2 ssv helper) from the tools> manage addons> disable enable addons option and made it where that anoying window wont pop up for IE but everything else has the same issues i just described