Windows 10: Windows Repair Not Loading

My laptop is probably 10 years old and I know it's time to retire it, but I was hoping to keep it running until I got a new one. It came preloaded with Windows 7 and got upgraded to 10 through the free upgrade when it came out a few years ago. Almost every big update over the last year-ish, I've had to uninstall because my computer couldn't handle it and Windows wouldn't load.


After the most recent update in November, Windows wouldn't load at all. The logo popped up, but it wouldn't load, encountered an error and restarted. Upon restart I got Error code: 0xc000000e: A required device isn't connected or can't be accessed.

I looked up how to attempt to fix it and found to make a bootable USB or use an original installation USB to access a repair menu. Well... I've tried both and run in to the same problem each time: It loads up the Install menu, I click the "repair your computer" link in the bottom left corner butnothing happens. The screen just stays blue and I get no options. I've let it sit for an hour, hoping something might change, but nothing did.


The hard drive light does go off and on like there is activity, it is a mechanical HD, not SSD and I have taken it out and reconnected it to make sure the connection was tight.


Any suggestions on what I could try or is it just time to take it out back and put it out of it's misery? I really have no desire to buy a new HD for a slow, 10 year old laptop, especially since I'd have to buy another Windows install too.


TIA - Bob


PS - My computer knowledge is fairly limited, so if the suggestions are too technical, I doubt I'll have much luck anyway.

:)