Question : options for repairing unstable laptop - low level re-format?

Would GREATLY appreciate a run-down on best procedure for resurrecting an unstable laptop.

Toshiba Tecra M3 laptop running XP Pro, SP 3 - has been unstable (several physical memory dumps) since installing and having to uninstall Roxio Easy Media Creator 10 - the uninstall included the the need (per Roxio instructions) to run Windows Clean Install utility AND using regedit to get rid of all Roxio and Sonic entries in the registry, and files and folders (including some "common" and "shared" files and folders). Since then system unstable.   Restore point created before all that did not restore - XP reported could not restore.

Have attempted to save mirror image of computer with Ghost 14 (including letting my computer be run by Symantec support personnel for several hours when Ghost kept hitting road-blocks), but not confident have a good mirror image since was getting "delayed write error - data lost" messages from windows during the ghosting process.  Even if had a successful ghost it would be of the unstable system as it now exists.

Have just set up a new Vista desktop system which will become my main computer , but want to try and resurrect Toshiba laptop for when travelling "on-the-road".  

Have done a dskchk c: \f and no error report from that.  Have saved all the data files (and probably all or most of the others files) to external hard disk and have Belarc Advisor report so I can remember all the software that is currently installed on laptop.

Have "Toshiba Recovery Disks" - 2 DVD's - that I created about a year ago.

Not sure how to proceed from here. I understand that for many the best approach would be to scrap the suspect hard disk and get a new one and load everything into it from scratch.  Would like to try a more conservative approach first.

On that premise, is the best first attempt done with the Toshiba Recovery disks?   They will offer the option of retaining partition or removing - which option should I take?  

If Toshiba Recovery Disk method seems to work, my understanding is that that will leave me with only XP Pro (or XP Home - not sure what's on the disks), and my basic drivers.  Everything else - such as XP, SP3 and updates, MS Office, etc will have to be loaded and installed from scratch - OR IS THERE A LESS DRASTIC FIRST STEP THAT WILL ATTEMPT A REPAIR WITHOUT WIPING ALL THE SOFTWARE AND SETTINGS? - such as Control Panel - repair - XP - but not sure this repair is possible for an OS - and only have original disk for XP Home, not XP Pro.

If Toshiba Recovery Disk not work, or still leave unstable system, what is the next step.  A "low-level" reformat? I have heard the term but not sure how to do it... and I believe it will require a complete reload of all software.

Rather than me babble on and on - if someone could lay out a procedure, or at least point me in the right direction, any I can post additional questions (and points) if there are glitches along the way.

Answer : options for repairing unstable laptop - low level re-format?

LRG15--I understand that the problem occurred after installing Roxio and you have uninstalled that.  Or was it after SP3?
You can uninstall SP3 from Control Panel|Add/Remove and look under Windows Service Pack SP3 (assuming it was installed over SP2).  In fact it probably is a good idea to uninstall SP3.
See what the result is.  If still problems, try a System Restore to a date before you installed SP3.
I know nothing about Toshiba's Recovery Disks.  As you have guessed most recovery disks restore the hard drive to its state as it left the factory.  That means no personal data, Windows Updates, third party programs, etc.
An XP Repair Install sounds ideal for you
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/XPrepairinstall.htm
The catch is you need a WinXP CD, not Recovery Disks.
Some PC makers will sell you a full WinXP CD for a small sum, like $10-20.