has my browser been infected by virus?

Please be patient with me, I'm super stupid when it comes to software and software terminology:

Anyway, my wife was listening to music on utube and then she clicked out of that website.

The monitor returned to our desktop but then a small window automatically opened.

Along the top of this window was written:

Launch Internet Explorer Browser Properties

Then below were tabs labeled:

"General", "Short cuts". "compatibility" "Security", "Details."

She clicked the X to close this small window then went to the Status bar(?) along the bottom

of the monitor screen to re-enter the Internet by clicking on the Explorer icon, but then the same small window opened up again!

She called me and I had the same problem, the icon which once directly opened the Explorer browser now only opened this small window of properties.

I have on the desktop shortcuts to other websites so I clicked on one which took me to the Internet but then I had trouble when I clicked on "Favorites"....the drop down menu only flickered and wouldn't stay open.

Thinking that my wife's visit to utube had caused us to pick up a virus I ran my anti-virus program but nothing showed up.

I then once more opened this annoying little window and took a full look at all the options displayed:

In the short cut tab was a fill-in line which had the following words:

"%HOMEDRIVE%%HOMEPATH%"

what in hell is that???

Is that some kind of bug/virus or is that normal software terminology?

Did I find the dirty deed someone secretly installed in my computer

or am I just going nuts?....;-)

Thanks for any and all advice

PS: No thanks, I don't need medication...;-)