Network Connection not properly set up

My dial up internet connection has been working fine until today. When my
desktop starts to load, it becomes very slow. Then, a Norton AntiVirus window
titled "Symantec Email Proxy" pops out. It says "Symantec Email Proxy cannot
scan your email messages because your network is not properly configured." It
also provides a link to Symantec Technical Support Knowledge base. There are
also a few numbers on the lower left hand corner which I don't know what it
is. The numbers are 1003,13. After this notification is closed, everything
resumes to normal speed.

Then, when I click on My Computer, it starts to search (where the
'torchlight' comes out and starts searching) and it takes very long until it
loads the window. Afterwhich, when I view my Network Connections, it's
totally empty. Connections that have been set up previously are gone. When I
try to set up a new connection, the window hangs or becomes non responsive.

In addition, any other applications that involves the network also displays
an error message saying that the network is not properly configured.

If anybody can help, please reply asap. Thank you very much.

Ok. I restored my computer using an earlier system restore point and my
network problem is solved. BUT windows update started to download some
updates and after installing it, the network problem comes back AGAIN.

Now I've reverted back to the earlier system restore point again but windows
STILL keep insisting on downloading and installing the updates that caused
the network problems. Is there any way I can delete the updates that are
ready to install and stop windows from downloading anymore updates?

I need help asap. Windows seriously is FORCING me to download the updates.