Computer auto enters configuration&restarts

Hello,
So i was downloading this program and I think it had a virus in it. Where it came from is not too important. It could also be malware. The problem went through a few phases. At first the computer started acting funny, stopping some of my programs. I restarted my computer and then something else happened. The whole desktop background would start blinking. It would blink off then blink on for a less than 6sec, then blink off again. I tried to run my free antimalware program but it wouldnt start up. how strange. I started to run the free super anti spyware program and it found a few things but i never got to finish the search. The computer restarted all of a suden. I tried it in safe mode and the desktop still blinked and malware still wouldnt work. I tried a few more time. Then a new problem. The computer on restart automatically goes into the configuration screen to pick from the safe modes and what not. but no matter which one I choose, the computer restarts. The screen flashes blue in the background and I can see there is a big error message but it flashes on and off in an instant so I can't read what it says. Now I dont know what to do.

thanks