the_constructor wrote:

Does the manufactures reset just copy new files to the old file structure or
does it do a complete format of the hard drive


it'll wipe it and copy the original files back, formatting is nothing
"magic" these days, the PC doesn't know enough about the internals of
the disk to actually format it.

I was thinking of reformatting the hard drive using a Win XP disc and then
doing a manufacturers reset.

Not likely to help further

Advice most welcome please.....

Sounds like a hardware issue, download memtest86+ and create a bootable
CD or USB stick, leave it running for a few hours.

Or give more details of the BSOD