Just select your printer as the default printer if a program asks you to.
It's because re-install, restore, last goog config, all take Windows back to a previous point in time.
This in turn can play havoc with any software installed after that previous time.
That's why your AVG got screwed too.
You may also find some other things not right.
I recently took an option of booting to the last known good configuration & Windows took me back to day one & I lost all my drivers. GRRR!
Last good config is the same as restore without extra dates to choose from.
Do as Merlin said, disable windows updates in your control panel, then manually update with the link in your start menu.
Don't allow Windows to update IE just yet.
Get everything else updated first.
Then if you want, go for the IE update and see what happens, if it screws up then go back to IE5.5.
One step at a time, testing between steps so you will know what causes you problems if any.
My prediction is that you will have everything updated, including IE & everything will work.
Before you go on the net....
Very important, install & activate AVG & Spybot.
Run the Spybot teatimer too.