Startup hangs at "Please Wait" (None of the solutions proposed previously have worked for me.)

I was working on my laptop(Lenovo X201 tablet) when my windows 8 prompted that it will restart in 15 mins to install updates. I came back after an hour and the start up is stuck at &quotPlease wait&quot. It remained that way for about 12 hrs, after which

I realized that something is wrong. (I am a student and this copy of windows 8 is downloaded from MSDNAA.)

None of these work:

1. Refresh : Says that an error occured (Doesnt specify what error)

2. System Restore: No restore points available

3. Reset : Says that an error occured (Doesnt specify what error)

4. Automatic repair : Says, Couldnt repair your PC.

5. Safe mode: Gets stuck at &quotPlease wait&quot

6. Disabling WiFi : Doesnt help

7. I scanned my HDD multiple times and it found no disk errors

I then took out my laptop HDD, placed it in a external USB enclosure and connected to my desktop. I then did the following, but none of these work either:

1. Renaming the Avast antivirus folder in Program files, just in case avast was the culprit.

2. Replaced the registry files from System32/config/regbackup to config to load old registry.

3. Loaded the registry, from my laptop HDD to desktop registry, to disable the NLA service and found that it was already disabled.

4. Also renamed the fingerprint reader software folder so that the service doesnt start.

I only have an ISO of the Windows 8 and my laptop doesnt have an optical drive. I prefer not to format my whole disk or buy a USB optical drive. Can anyone suggest any kind of tweak to repair my windows or in worst case reinstalling windows onto my laptop

HDD while being connected through USB enclosure?

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