Stuck on "Attempting repairs" on start up

[karenmuennink]

When pushing Power Button to turn on I receive "Preparing Automatic Repair". Then "Diagnosing your PC", then "Attempting repairs". Never moves forward after this. What can I do to fix this?
I think this happened after I attempted to updat my software. Don't know if that process ever finished before I powered down.

[CherylG · Accepted solution]

Sounds like a hard drive problem.Use System Diagnostics to test it. Immediately after powering on start tapping the Esc key about once a second. This should bring up a menu where F2 System Diagnostics is a choice. Press the F2 key.

[karenmuennink]

Thanks for the "next step" solution. Of course I had to perform other tasks to fix the problem, but you got me down the road. Thank you!

I ended up having to restore my files to a previous date, prior to an update I installed just before the issue arose.

[Tippyjo88]

How did you go about restoring the files to a previous date what steps did you take to get there?

[IlmeraB]

I have been trying all morning, restarted dozen times. My screen starts with “Preparing Automatic Repair” with loading circle, then start up screen just blinks blank and follows by “Diagnosing your PC” with loading circle and goes to “ Atempting repairs” with loading circle and doesn’t stop or let me do anything! Please help!