Problems after installation

Since I was having multiple problems with the 64-bit version of Vista
Ultimate, I decided to install the 32-bit version instead. I did not
format/delete the partition when I installed it. After installation, I seem
to have no security permissions. Even though I am accessing the Internet,
the icon shows that I am not connected and says "Access Denied". I cannot
save any files to the hard drive, I cannot use Windows Update. I have
activated Windows. What do I need to do to correct this?