Dell Update messed up computer

Three days ago, I had a Dell update pop up on my lap top. I updated my computer like i have for the past year. I rebooted like it tells you too. When the computer was rebooting, it took fifteen minutes to restart. Now the entire computer is messed up. If i click to open a program it opens for about 2 seconds then closes. Therefore I cant do a system restore. Is there anything i can do, or am i stuck reformating the entire thing?