Dropped Computer, Windows Startup Repair Irregular

Hello All,

Having some issues with my computer (Lenovo T420) and startup repair. I've looked at a few other threads, but I'm unsure about some things with my situation.

I knocked my computer off a table yesterday afternoon - I'm not sure if it had already shut down (it was shutting down), but it was off after dropping.

I turned it on a few hours later and startup didn't happen, and I got to recovery options.

I ran startup repair, with the standard messages (scanned for problems, repaired for half an hour or so, and restarted). I got to the recovery again, and started startup repair again (with the message below the moving blue bar of something like - "Attempting repairs, may take more than an hour"_. Unfortunately my computer ran out of batteries, so powered off - I plugged it in and the startup repair began again, eventually with the message "Attempting repairs, may take more than an hour".

Two hours later, my computer restarted, and went back to startup repair, with the same "more than an hour" message below.

It ran for the next 6 hours while I slept - however, this time, below the bar, it says "Attempting repairs..." and does not specify any time - I'm not sure if this is significant. It's still running (about 12 hours in total since I first started Startup Repair).

Another issue right now is my external HDD with my backup stopped working a couple of weeks ago, and I was actually planning to do a new backup last night!

From reading other threads concerned with Startup Repair, it sounds like my HDD may be toast. However, I'd like to ask:

1) has anyone run startup repair in a similar situation for longer than this, with it working?
2) If I take it to a software shop I take for some minor issues, would they possibly be able to do anything?
3) I've seen briefly a solution of making a Windows 7 Repair Disc. I assume I could make this off a colleague's, but is this likely to help?
4) Is there any other advice that anyone can give me as to what to do to diagnose or fix the exact problem?
5) Is it advisable to just turn it off and try another option such as using a Windows Installation Disk (if I can find it)?

Thank you very much,

Karan Kukreja

The situation seems clear: The hard drive has been damaged by the fall and needs to be replaced.

Thanks for the replies guys - you were right, got a new Hard Drive and copied the stuff off it using the repair shop's computer.