IMac won't boot after log-in screen. wheel keeps spinning or blue screen

Hi there!
I have a problem with my 2009 iMac running on Leopard. It all worked fine over years until last week when I was doing some work and the screen just froze and the wheel didnt stop spinning. So i turned it off and back on. Then all i got was a blue screen and it didnt boot. Tried again to start in safe mode. Nothing. Then using my install dvd doing the HD check and repair. Said no damage. But still didnt boot. So i tried to reinstall the OS. Still didnt boot. At least now i'm seeing the log in screen again instead of just the blue or grey screen. But once i try to type my username in, the wheel starts spinning and it freezes again.
I'm lost! I dont know what else to do. Can someone please help and give some advice if there are any other options to get it bak to normal??
Thanks.

I have the exact same problem. IMac worked great until I installed the latest security update two days ago.  I got a message that the download was not successful.  After restarting the use, computer acts exactly as described  above.  Can't get it to complete startup. It acts like its trying to update firmware, but turns of in the middle of it. 

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