What have I done, and what do I need to do?

Dell Inspiron 1545

Windows Vista Home Basic 64-Bit SP2

I have the Vista Installation DVD, Dell Drivers and Downloads DVD, Dell Applications DVD, and my MS Word CD

Hi all,

I apologize if this is terribly long, but I want to include any info at all that may contribute to someone helping me. The only computer repair place near where I live is unable to get to mine for almost 7 weeks, and Dell just charged me $400 for my desktop for something I found out I could have done at home. I'm just going to throw it out there. I thought I could fix my Inspiron 1545 Laptop, but this obviously is not the case. After it repeatedly kept showing blue screen errors, locking up, and freezing, it finally came to a point where it'd freeze immediately upon start up. I tried to go back to a restore point, but every single one was suddenly gone, and after looking around find that things has slowly began to "disappear." I immediately took all of my pictures, documents, etc., and put them onto CDs to be able to re-add later.

I then did the Dell DataSafe Local Backup option to "restore computer and reserve my new or changed files (recommended)." I went to the Emergency folder on my desktop where it said it'd store my pictures, MS Word files, and anything else I chose on the first step. I backed that up onto a CD as well. After this process was done, and my laptop was "restored." I went through the entire setup, and then tried to re add the Emergency folder. It said that it was possibly damaged or lost. (DataSafe was completely gone, and I had to setup my account with them again, and my McAfee after the normal Windows setup when the computer restarted) This was the same for the CD, it wasn't there.

This is where it gets fun. Due to my time restraints, absolutely everything being gone, and my job riding on my laptop being fixed asap, I decided to start completely over with a reinstall since I was able to save my pics and MS Word docs that I needed. I used my Vista installation DVD, chose where to install (Disk0 Partition 3 OS) It let me know that the file may contain some old files from a previous windows installation, and that they would be located in the "windows.old." Installation finished, did setup, it did a performance check, and then I began on the drivers with the Dell Drivers and Utilities Installation DVD.

Before I added drivers, Backup and Restore Center created a restore point immediately after the Vista install, and before anything else was done. I added the drivers, at first in the wrong order, did my Window Updates, and then figured out what I did as far as drivers. The InstallShield Wizard started and said "the program features you selected are being installed," but I didn't chose any features? It said it finished installing successfully. Now, I've been trying to add my programs back, but half of them won't install, and Window Updates can't finish installing either suddenly (it successfully installed about 30 before this). I can't add my MS Word back either which is one of the main things I need right now. My DataSafe is completely gone, and so is my McAfee.

I don't know what I've done, but per the advice of someone else need to do something. I'm on day 4 and exhausted! Will going back to the restore point that was created immediately after the Vista install, and doing my drivers again in the correct order help?

My other question is this. A factory image restore goes back to the way your computer was when it was shipped to you correct? If I were to do this now (even after basically 2 installs of Vista) will this option still restore my laptop to "new out of the box." If it will I wouldn't mind just doing this, because everything has been wiped out anyways. I just need it running good again, able to reinstall my Microsoft Word, be able to do the Windows Updates, etc. Any help at all is appreciated, and you would be saving me my job. If you need any additional information, just let me know, and I'll immediately respond.