If I Re-Format acer 4200 series using DOS can I still reload the O/S ?

Hi I have an acer Travelmate 4200 series and it has just shown me the blue screen saying "windows has developed a software fault so has been shut down to avoid damaging the comp, proceeding with memory dump etc" at which point the whole thing freezez and will not respond.
I have tried the standard restore to factory settings from the back up disc but as soon as windows goes to start the same thing occurs.
My Question is this ..
1)does anyone know if i go into MS Dos and and completely reformat the hard drive can the o/s then be reloaded using the restore disc ?

2) does the restore disc get any of its info from the d drive and if so and it turns out one of the files on there is corrupt is there any way to restore it or do I have to get a complete xp o/s disc ?

Any help would be much appreciated

 

Why dos?
I use gparted, its linux, and it works great.

 

did your laptop come with a COA..a sticker at the bottom of th notebook with the serial key printed on it....??
If the restore discs are bootable and have all the data in them then u will be able to reload the OS but I am not sure if it will access D: drive....but if a file is corrupt then it will be hard for you to restore the OS....!!