Apps won't open after NIS 2011 Installed

I am using Norton Internet Security 2011 (18.5.0.125). Activated with NIS key and all

updates applied many times.
Windows Vista Home Premium SP2 w/all MS updates.

 

After installing NIS 2011 none of my applications that reside in C:\Program Files will

run. NIS has removed all the installation files from here and when I try to open up an

app it cannot find the location obviously. I first noticed this when I tried to open IE

8. I get the error message "internet explorer has stopped working". It will not open up

the browser at all since it cannot locate it in the C:\Program Files folder.

When I restore the system to an earlier time before I installed NIS everything works

perfectly.
I also noticed that when trying to open IE 8 that the file "iexplore.exe" is located in

a folder at C:\Windows\Winsxs. I suspect all my other apps ".exe" files are located here

somewhere too.
Even after clicking on the "iexplorer.exe" file in this location it would not open

either.

Here is what I have tried:

In NIS:
Turned off Smart Firewall (permanently). Before this I performed a "Firewall Reset"

(permanently). Reboot.
Turned off Intrusion Protection, reboot.
Turned off Browser Protection, reboot.
Scanned for Malware/Spyware and viruses. None detected, my system is clean.
Removed NIS using the latest "Norton Removal Tool" and reinstalled twice.

Also, I have tried suggestions from people who have recommended other things to try in

some posts but I can't get these apps to open up at all. I have run out of things to

try.

Thanks,
Corey