I've been having reoccurring problems with this laptop. Not myself personally, but every Christmas when I get bombarded with computer questions/tech support.

I've got this laptop from someone in my family, again, that basically won't boot. Once it goes through to the Vista loading bar it shuts down. I thought for a while maybe it was overheating, so I dug out a cooling pad for it and still the same issue.

Logically I asked him if he cared about any of the data on the HDD, he said no, so I went to reformatting it. I'm trying to boot the OS install/restore disc that came with the laptop, I changed the BIOS to boot from CD, it goes into the Restore/Factory Default menu, and hangs. The bar sits at 0%. After that I tried just simply booting it off the CD and reformatting it via the Windows Vista 'Update/Repair' menu. It asks me if I want to save Windows.old etc. I say yes and it goes to Expanding Files.. (xx%) -- then the system shuts down.

Is there any other way to save this laptop or reformat it? I was going to just put 7 or XP on it once I got the laptop actually working again, but I can't even get that far.

Any input is welcome.