Thanks guys, the problem is since I can't get on the web I can't download anything. I will have to check on my wife's machine (using that now) to see if I can download an installer to copy to usb stick and run on mine.
Update:
I pulled the plug on the computer so as not to save any updates and rebooted but still the same!! Now instead of shutting down via task manager I tried right clicking on the firefox tab on the toolbar to close it, as soon as I right clicked on the tab the spinning "G" stopped and now it all works, crazy!!
I hope it is ok now and not that it does the same on restarting, for now I'm going to make the most of it!!!