Thanks for everyones' suggestions...
Here is the winning formula for anyone that needs it in the future, or right now for that matter.....DON'T GET UPSOLD BY TECH SUPPORT ON THIS!!!!!
Ran Malwarebytes in safe mode. RootKit detected, so I deleted it. Afterwards, I was still getting the BSOD upon windows normal start.
Let it be known, that HP support did not help in the least as they told me immediately the HDD would need to be replaced. So I immediately ended that tech support chat, popped in a windows 7 recovery CD, pulled up the cmd and executed a well-deserved fixmbr...i.e. bootsect /nt60 etc.... DONE! so those guys should scrap the HDD upsell.
Next, ran the TDSSKiller in safe mode with networking, but I had already wiped it out with Malwarebytes(I assume, because the TDSSKiller did not find any offensive ware)
Next, went into the C:/windows/system32/drivers and deleted the iaStor.sys driver file.
Next, system wouldn't boot for a while, but eventually after repeated attempts it did boot in normal mode. I downloaded the Matrix Storage Manger, P.S.(there are two, so download and install the file with the name ending in *ENU.exe, thats what worked for me)
Next, ran CCleaner registry cleaner multiple times until all errors were resolved(except one annoying recurrence anyway)
Next, ran Malwarebytes again to confirm no offenses.
Finally, system nominal, created restore point