Various errors - cannot repair, restore, or reinstall OS

Hello.

I'm actually a Windows 7 user, but I am having incredible problems with my son's laptop (Acer Aspire E1-570), which has Windows 8.1 as its OS.

The other day the laptop in question suddenly experienced a BSOD with error 0xc0000185. I followed instructions given on the Microsoft Community site (Windows 8 Error Code: 0xc0000185. - Microsoft Community), but things have not gone as they should have.

I have been unable to repair the problem, use system restore or reinstall Windows 8.1 as an error always comes up, either almost immediately or else before the process can finish.

These error messages have included, apart from 0xc0000185, also 0x8007051a, 0x8007045D and Critical Process Died.

I've just tried doing a factory reset, and the computer blocked at 64% - 'Unable to reset your PC. A required drive partition is missing'!

I honestly don't know where to go from here. The laptop is relatively new (not yet 12 months), and it came with Windows 8 pre-installed so I was not given an OS DVD. I created an installation media USB following instructions on the above-mentioned Microsoft Community website.

Can someone help me? I'm not terribly savvy with computers, so you'll have to keep your explanations reasonably simple!!

Many thanks to whoever can offer assistance.

Was recovery media created after purchase and before the upgrade to 8.1 as recommended by the manufacturer?

The situation is a bit more complicated if the PC was upgraded to 8.1 before any recovery media was created. Unless you fell comfortable doing a clean 8.1 install from an ISO your best bet might be to order original recovery media from the manufacturer and restore computer to factory state.

Can you access the computer at all?

Were the most recent (November) Microsoft updates installed?

Thank you for your reply, gator2013.
No, I stupidly did not create any recovery media after purchase (cannot understand why as I have always done this for my own computers). As of today I can no longer access the computer (the most recent Microsoft updates were installed.
I'm thinking that these problems may all be due to a broken or damaged hard disk; I've been hearing a clicking sound coming from the laptop since the BSOD first appeared. If that's the case, then this should be covered in the warranty.