No NIS exes run, but NIS checks say AOK!

My NIS 2011 has stopped running, and all the instructions for repairs can not work because 1) uninstalls hang, 2) upgrades fail, 3) recoveries change nothing, and 4) scans of the NIS by Norton hosts on the internet says no problem.   Generally, whatever the problem might be why can't the Norton even recognize that its components are not even starting.  There are even messages in the event logs of problems.  Can't even report release info in the ABOUT.  I am a computer person that is looking for a way out.   I was able to push through a last scan before everything went south, and it only found 3 cookie exceptions.   If there is something knocking out Norton, which general googles indicate, why aren't the their specific instructions in the Norton posts.  Or have I just been too blind.