IE 6 just closed on me with no error log

I was replying to a post in my Agnitum Outpost firewall forum and IE just
closed, no error displayed or reported in the event log.

Have been having problems with Microsoft Visual C++ errors in other
applications, temp files, Windows Installer and Application Management.

I am assuming (but hate to) this is a kernel level error and probably
requires a restore of a system state.

Visual C++ is not used in windows in a user mode unless it communicates with
kernel mode is it?

Im trying to learn what kernel mode is as opposed to user mode in windows
but I'm missing the basics basics...if u know what i mean