WMP alternative and IE upgrade

I've been to this forum and my comps secure and clean but I have a question about these two programs.

Windows Media hogs my resources and even slows me when its not running due to some liscensing and other process running all the time. I don't want these running all the time and if possible I don't want WMP at all. It seems so tied to windows OS and security. Does anyone know of a solution? Can I just Not have it at all?

Also,

I've downloaded IE several times (newer versions that will work with 2000 proffessional) and yet my version remans the same. How do I get the old one off and the new one on? Silly I know but I'm stuck.


Thanks guys!