Apple Series 1 42mm will not hard reset, flashes Apple logo while on charger, holding down force restart buttons shows the red exclamation point dreaded icon as well.

I purchased this watch from a friend. They are not overly tech savvy, so when I was offered the watch at a great price, I jumped at the chance. I always wanted an Apple Watch but was never one to spend money on myself. I have four wonderful kids and a wife who I want to ensure have a good life, and this often means I am foregoing some of the things I would like for myself. That said, when this chance came up, I leaped at it. Unfortunately for me, this seems to be one of the rarer times that I cannot get something working, despite the community forum recommendations, YouTube videos, and even a brief chat with Apple Support. I have an appointment over a week away for this to be looked at, but it is gnawing away at me. I have not been able to get this to turn on to pair, either. So, the app workarounds are not an option either.

if anyone happens to know a lesser known, but tried and true method that isn’t as advertised, I would absolutely appreciate it. I would hate to see any amount of money I have spent on this, go to waste. I have tried the methods that are better known and available so many times that my thumbs are indented from the crown and power button 😂.