Presumably you are using Norton Internet Security, which has the firewall and anti V in the one package. I am using the 2005 version, but all are essentially similar.
Going fomr what you have written and if I have nderstood it correctly, then Outlook will run if the firewall is disabled, but Norton has not alerted you to any rules it has created, to allow OE to be your email client. If so, read on. What is needed is to add OE to the Norton list of allowed progs and it is a cinch.
1. Open Norton Int Sec.
2. Go to "personal firewall" or similar, depending on version.
3. Click the Programs tab.
4. you see a list of progggies. at the bottom of this window,, click "add" if OE isn't there, or "modify" if it is and work from there.
This will manually configure Norton to accept OE tramsactions without getting its' knickers in a twist.
While you are at it, just go into the MS Security Centre (In the control panel) and check that the MS firewall isn't running as well. Only use one firewall! You should be able to give us a sitrep if needed.
Merry Mousing,
Conan