Laptop Destroyed by Windows 10 Update

Apparently my laptop updated while I left it unattended, and now I get error message no matter what I try. It says my computer needs to be repaired---missing file : Windows\system32\winload.efi. Error OXC0000225.

Now, here's the fun part: I cannot bypass this error no matter what. I have watched countless videos and instructions on reloading, correcting, rebooting, etc...no matter what I do, it goes back to this screen. Yes, I have been through all the steps---first tried auto repair, then reboot in safe mode, then reboot with commands, even tried one method with command prompts. No matter what, it returns to that same screen.

And here's another weird part---at this point, I'm not even sure what OS i am running. I feel like it's "between" Windows 8 and Windows 10 and can't go forward or backward. In the bios, it says Windows 8, but I believe it's trying to move onto Windows 10. I called Microsoft and they said my laptop won't support Windows 10, and suggested calling HP to obtain the correct drivers. I called HP and they said for 60.00 they would correct everything. I told them I just wanted the drivers, period. I can figure out the rest without tech support. They dropped the price to 50.00 but that just burns me up. I never asked for this update in the first place. The HP guy kept saying the update was optional and I shouldn't have allowed it, but it updated automatically while I left the laptop unattended. In my book, that's not "optional," but forced.

This happened once before and they took remote control of my system and fixed everything. For free. As it should be. In my book, they should fix it if they caused it. Yes, I know NOW that I can disable automatic driver updates, but how was I supposed to know my laptop didn't have the correct drivers in the first place. Nobody tells you this when you start the download...and I never even agreed to the download anyway.

I feel like if I could just open it in safe mode, I could do a system restore to a previous date. But all paths lead to that same blue screen with the error message. To make things even tougher, the laptop does not have a CD drive, and it didn't come with an OS disc. That would have been the easy route.

HELP. Signed-----"Completely Over Microsoft"

Well, you can download the drivers from support downloads for your particular notebook. You can download and create a windows 8.1 install USB with the MCT and try a repair install that should get you back to 8.1. Not sure why you would get an auto update to Windows 10 unless you downloaded the tool for that somehow.
You can get on the Windows 8 Forum for how to remove any files that would cause an upgrade to 10.

Okay. Downloading Win 8.1 now to USB. I assume I have to designate it to boot from USB in bios, right? Or will it ask when inserted? Sorry, I've never done this before.

Yes, you need to check the boot order in the BIOS and select USB drive (or similar) as first device. With some PCs you can press and hold the F12 key after power on to do a 'one time' boot order change.

Yes My wifes Envy All in one will open the bypass boot menu if I spam the Esc key from a cold boot where I select the UEFI USB, Some computer will use F8, or F2 you need only look in the user manual for the correct Key combo to open the boot menu without changing anything in your BIOS or HP support forum someone there will know which key to use.