How on earth can I restore windows?

Ok, my laptop (Lenovo G500) just updated from Windows 8 to Windows 8.1. Now, after logging in, it then goes to a black screen with a box in the top right corner that says "Setting up personalized settings for: C:\\Windows\SysWOW64\Rundll32.exe
C:\\Windows\SysWOW64\msxories.dll.Install "

What on earth does this mean and how on earth can I just go back to it working?!

I can use ctrl alt delete to access the task manager and from there I can open programmes so I tried going into control panel and restoring windows to a previous restore point - no dice, apparently that function has been turned off the whole time I've had the laptop (thanks Microsoft, appreciate that one) so what are my options?

Also, I can't seem to use F1 or F12 or whatever the keys are to access boot menu etc when starting the laptop up, again apparently due to the nature of Windows 8.

Guest

Sounds like IE is having a problem finishing its update. You state that you can use ctrl+alt+delete to open the task manager - if that's still try open the task manager and start the "cmd" application. In the command prompt window type: "C:\Windows\SysWOW64\ie4uinit.exe" -BaseSettings

To restore IE to base settings and then reboot once the command completes and see what happens.

PartieHonteuse