But you wrote about updating the OS. Why not boot some other OS and get your files out if you can (is that an issue?) then clean install any OS.
Example old advice where you use another OS. Update that old advice to use a newer OS. Read http://tips.oncomputers.info/archives2004/0401/2004-Jan-11.htm
A very very old toshiba satellite with windows 7 freezes after startup. Just freezes. Sometimes it would even turn itself off. Freezes in safe mode as well (was ok in safe before I tried check disk on it). In bios can stay indefinitely without freeze. Where can the problem be? I tried to update the os via a flash drive but it said it needed to boot windows up before, so obviously it couldn't do it

Chowhound
Comic Vine
GameFAQs
GameSpot
Giant Bomb
TechRepublic