I will try to help but I am very new to this.

1) Are you accidentally running in compatibility mode on IE (this would be torn piece of paper icon in the address bar, you want that greyed out).

2) I would try deleting it and re-installing it. Dont install it into the admin area, just upload it onto the server. In my complete ignorance I fortunately got that right.

3) It does work very well and with a bit of pain and googling you can work out which piece of code does what, if you have a few days to do so.

4) Regarding the installing of .sql and the 'missing' information regarding typing in the box there and pressing send. I didn't type anything, just uploaded the install_sql file and it is working fine so far.

The issues I have had have been mostly due to my own ignorance, the template should load up and work fine. I am on zen cart v1.5.0.

Bon chance.