Elitebook 8570p boot issue

[TG1990]

Hello,

Short version: I returned from 5 week trip and previously working Elitebook 8570p (Windows 10, WD Blue SA510 SATA SSD 1tb, MFD July 2022) will no longer boot to Windows.  I have extensively tried nearly all the troubleshooting posts and articles I could find both on the HP forums and elsewhere, but still cannot boot to Windows.

Long version: I just returned from a 5 week trip where I left my Elitebook 8570p at home.  I shut down Windows normally, closed the screen, and unplugged the charging cable prior to leaving.  Never had any issues with the computer prior, no drops, no power surges, always kept updated and shut down properly.

Upon returning, I plugged the charging cable in and powered the computer on.  It booted slowly but normally, I assumed perhaps catching up on software updates.  After about 10 minutes on the home screen, I was unable to get any programs to open, the cursor was very slow and laggy, so I powered the computer off, waited a minute, then powered back on.

Upon powering back on, I could not get the computer to boot to Windows.  Following is the order of screens as they appeared:
1) HP startup logo
2) Intel (R) Boot Agent CL v0.1.10 Copyright (C) 1997-2013, Intel Corporation
Intel (R) Boot Agent PXE Base Code (PXE-2.1 build 092) Copyright (C) 1997-2010, Intel Corporation/

Initializing and establishing link...
3) PXE-EG1: Media test failure, check cable
PXE-M0F: Exiting Intel Boot Agent
4) BootDevice Not Found
Please install an operating system on your hard disk.
Hard disk - (3F0)

The screen then went to the "HP PCE Hardware Diagnostics UEFI."   Computer passed the memory check, but I was unable to run either the quick or extensive hard drive checks due to the errors: 
SMART Check : NOT INSTALLED
Short DST : NOT INSTALLED

Powered the computer off, waited, then powered on and F10d into boot menu.  I tried:
1) Checking the System Date and Time ( it was accurate);
2) Restoring Defaults;
3) All 3 boot modes (Legacy, UEFI Hybrid, and UEFI Native);
4) Changing the boot orders so that 'eSata Hard Drive' was at the top of the boot order;
5) Hard reset (powered PC off, removed battery and charging cord, no devices attached, holding power button down for 30 seconds);
6) Removing and re-seating the hard drive;
7) Using an SATA-USB connector (verified working with different hard drive) to connect to another PC, which recognized the hard drive as a USB mass storage device, but with no access to the hard drive contents;
😎 Installing the hard drive into a different HP Elitebook laptop and booting, same boot issue occurred;
9) Contacting HP support (they will not help with support if the device is out of warranty (it is))

Stupidly, I have not performed a backup in close to a year (never a drive image, just the data folders/files), so I do have data on the drive I would prefer to salvage before attempting a complete wipe and reinstall of Windows.  Hoping that somebody may have an idea or solution to try that doesn't involve $1000 for a data recovery company.

Sorry for the long post.  TIA for any advice given.