I accidentally closed my laptop while it was installing updates, and now it will not stop restarting.  It gets to this blue screen that says there is an issue, then automatically restarts all over again.  there is nothing I can do other than force shut it down.  Please help!   

try to go to safe mode, if you have OEM PC, try to access recovery image, do system restore at safe mode or recovery OEM OS

http://www.7tutorials.com/5-ways-boot-safe-mode-windows-8-windows-81

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-8/windows-startup-settings-including-safe-mode

• Edited by britishdhez 7 hours 35 minutes ago

:( entering safe mode doesn't work by holding f8 on windows 8.1.  I cannot do anything because the blue screen comes up before the sign in screen and then it reboots all over again. 

your PC OEM? means this OS comes when the first time you bought this PC( OS from manufactured)

You can ask the manufactured how to access recovery partition and do system restore there

Or if this PC using separate OS (you buy OS DVD), you can try in place upgrade or repair recovery health

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2255099/id-id

• Edited by britishdhez 5 hours 50 minutes ago