Laptop will not boot after power cut

Hi guys, a friend of mine has asked me to install windows hoping that it would fix a problem he has recently had

He was updating his system and a power cut happened, and his laptop turned off.
When he boots up, he gets to options
Start windows Normally
Launch Startup repair

He asked me if i could fresh install windows as that may help
When I try this, the system freezes at Setup is starting

If I run startup repair, I get error 0xc00000e9 (Error communicating with device)
If I start windows normally, goes to starting windows, then the same error

I am guessing the hard drive failed, but I want to make sure before telling him.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated
Thank you

I think your guess is correct, failed HDD.

I just have to know. If this was on a notebook how could a power failure cause the system to turn off? No or dead/failed battery?

Hi, I have not spoke to him since, but while making this topic, I did actually think, I don't know how it would have ran out of charge.

I tested the laptop battery life, and it seemed fine enough, so I guess he just let his power run down without knowing, I am not sure

Check the hard drive with the manufacturer's diagnostic tools.
Hard Drive Diagnostics Tools and Utilities (Storage) - TACKtech Corp.
Hard Drive Diagnostic Procedure

First check if the HD is detected in BIOS setup.

If so run the HD maker's diagnostics extended CD scan from above links.