Windows 10: How do I reset or recover my pc when windows won't load?

I have a refurbished Dell Optiplex 790 that I use as my Plex server. It sits in my basement without a monitor and up until yesterday all was well.

I couldn't access any of my Plex content, so I tried to teamviewer into it to relaunch the server. I got an error that the Dell was offline, so I went to the basement and did a hard boot. Still nothing, no Plex or teamviewer.

Today I brought it upstairs and plugged it into the tv, and win10 will not load. It tries to run diagnostics but it fails and gives me 3 options: 1 - Continue - exit and continue to win 10. 2 - Troubleshoot - reset your pc or see advanced options. 3 - Turn off pc. Option 1 puts me in a loop that only results in this same screen. When I go to Troubleshooting - reset this pc, either option gives me an error "there was a problem resetting your pc, no changes were made" and all I can do is cancel and return to the previous screen.

I tried to get into the bios and got an error, something about time not being set. I don't recall exactly what it was but google said to change the coin battery, which I did but I still can't get windows to load. I opened command prompt and tried to view the log file but it says "the system cannot find the path specified".

I've been meaning to start fresh with this pc anyway, but ideally I would like to get into it first so I can backup settings in programs and recoup some batch files etc before I wipe everything. Also, what happens with my win10 key? I don't want to lose it. It was a legit purchase, the Dell was shipped without an os.

Any help is greatly appreciated, I'm stuck. Thanks!

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:)

 

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Volume Mute Light won´t change color

Which steps did you perform? Was this from a clean boot?
Open administrative command prompt and type or copy and paste this command: shutdown /r /o /f /t 00
It will boot to the recovery options or windows advanced troubleshooting menu.
Click troubleshooting and click reset this computer. You will be saving files. Applications and programs will be removed. Windows will be reinstalled.
Enter your windows logon password.
You will see getting things ready with rotating dots.
Click resetting this PC.
It will then display the HP logo with resetting this PC with rotating dots and a percentage.