Restart failed- computer won't turn on!

Hi,

Yesterday Norton (not sure if I have NAV or NIS) said it had updated itself and needed to restart (which it did automatically). When it restarted, the computer would not open windows. It kept cycling through the black screen that tells you "We're sorry, but Windows did not open properly"  and gives you options (start in safe mode, etc.)  I started it using "use the last settings that worked."  Windows started successfully- until Norton said it updated itself and had to restart.  Now I cannot get windows to open in any way.  It will get started, show a blue screen that has some sort of message (it is gone too quickly to read) and then restart itself in an endless cycle.  Safe mode, etc. will not work either. The only thing that I can get it to do is start in "Recovery Console"- which is just a cursor on a black on screen.  Please help- I have a half-finished final project due next week on this computer (not to mention all the pics of my newborn!)

 

Thanks!