I can no longer access my PC. It just keeps saying "Preparing Automatic Repair"

[snel31]

My PC was working just fine and all of the sudden this morning, every time I attempt to boot up my laptop the hp screen comes on and "Preparing Automatic Repair" appears. It then goes to a blue screen that says "Choose your keyboard layout". I select US, and it then takes you to the next page with two options, 1. Troubleshoot and 2. Turn off your PC. I select Troubleshoot and the options are either Recovery Manager or Advanced options.  When I select recovery manager, the only options it allows me to select are Run Computer Checkup, and Show contact information for HP customer support. When I select Run Computer Checkup, an error message pops up and it will only allow me to open a command prompt. The System Recovery Option and File Backup option are shown in gray and don't allow you to click on them. When this option didn't work, I moved to the Advanced Options.

Under Advanced Options, the options include Startup Repair, Command Prompt, Uninstall Updates, UEFI Firmware Settings, System Restore, and System Image Recovery. Every option I select except for the Command Prompt leads to Error Messages and won't allow me to do a System Restore or access any of the Advanced Options. When I attempt to click on System Restore, and error message appears that reads "To use System Restore, you must specify which Windows installation to restore. Restart this computer, select an operating system, and then select System Restore". I have no idea what this means. I also have no idea how to use the Command Prompt or anyway to even begin going about fixing this problem and getting my properly functioning PC back. Can anyone help with this? Any ideas, help, or information anyone could provide would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!

[ub6424]

Hello @snel31 

Sorry to hear that you are having problems ... and I would like to help you.

(1) Cancel repair loop, press and hold power button until notebook switches off.

(2) Test your hardware Using the HP PC Hardware Diagnostics (UEFI)

https://support.hp.com/us-en/document/c04499777

See how it works:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=14GKIpGPNRM

(3) Please report your results

[snel31]

Thank you very much for your help. I have followed all of the steps you provided and performed a System Fast Test. All passed except for the The Hard Drive Short DST Check which failed. I have attached a photo of the Test Results with the error/failure information. If you have any ideas for what to do next, I would greatly appreciate it. 

[ub6424]

Hello @snel31 

You need to <replace> the <hard drive> and reinstall operating system.

HP warranty valid -> Contact HP Support

HP warranty expired:

If you can't do that, you should have it serviced by a professional notebook repair store.

Do you need more help ?