Since I installed norton 360, my internet explorer does not open. Also, when I try to change settings on my control panel and close it, it freezes. When I log into the computer, my windows live messenger works fine, but if I try to search something under the today window of msn, it takes me nowhere.

The simplest thing to try is to remove Norton 360. If everything works properly (which, somehow I doubt it will), reinstall it. If everything works then, you're gold. If not, it's probably a setting in Norton 360 that needs to be tweaked to allow IE to run.

Try to right click the IE icon and open without addons. If that doesn't work try going to Start>Run>type Iexplore.exe and see if that brings it up. Also try to run a online virus scan... www.eset.com<---best virus program.