Every single computer I've had come in from BB, Geeks, Office store, etc. that was "fried hard drive" just had a very confused Windows on it. I have yet to have someone bring in such a diagnosed computer with an actual bad HDD (yes I have seen HDD failures elsewhere). Some are so messed up they need a new patition table but once reconstructed I often find a usable Windows install still intact.
Having said all that, all my family and friends have moved primarily to tablets and phones, with one old laptop or desktop for homework, bills, or MS Office stuff ("real work"). So my free support burden has lessened dramatically in the past 5 years.
If there was ever a broken, overburdened, semi-functional Monopoly ripe for market disruption, Windows is that poster child. It will find a place in Government and Corporate America for many years, but Thank God the era of everyone having to struggle constantly with the Official Microsoft Virus Festival are over.