New (refurbed) Inspiron 1720 keeps shutting down (BSOD) randomly + other issues

I've had my certified refurbished Inspiron 1720 for a grand total of six days now, and I've had... I don't even know how many BSODs and restarts where it asks me if I want to boot into safe mode because the stupid thing shut off incorrectly or messed up going into sleep or hibernate mode. On my Windows Problem Reports page it lists 8 BSODs in the past 3 days, but I had more prior to that so I'm not sure why they're not listed.

The information it offers me in the Problem & Solution Center is "Download and install the driver for Intel PRO/Wireless LAN adapter software." The other is "Problem caused by device driver." The second one says there are no solutions, and the first provides me with a link to Intel's site to download a driver. I finally did that last night and tried to install it. The installation stalled, but I let it sit for at least 20 minutes because I thought maybe it was just slow. Eventually I opened up task manager and, sure enough, it was "not responding". So I ended the task. Then I lost my internet connection. Well, actually, it still found the network and gave me 5 bars of connectivity, but this laptop was not connected. I tried to repair the network, to enable it again, etc. Nothing worked. So I figured, usually with Windows you can just restart and it's all better, right? Apparently not with Vista.

When it restarted it said "Currently installing Windows update 1 of 3. 0% complete. Do not shut off your computer." It stayed there for about 30-40 minutes, after which it said something like, "Cannot update. Reverting changes. Do not shut off your computer." That lasted for about 10-15 minutes, and then it said "Shutting down" for another 20-30 minutes. Finally, I just shut the stupid thing down by pressing and holding the power button. During the over an hour that this took, I was on my other laptop trying to figure out what was going on. The closest thing I could find is that a recent update made some people reboot in an infinite loop, but they all got up to "update 3 of 3 at 0%". The general consensus was to do a system restore. (Which is CRAZY to have to do for a six-day-old machine!) I did, and it was working fine again last night and this morning (it even came out of standby fine this morning, for, I think, the first time ever), and then today I was using only Firefox and boom! Another BSOD. Unfortunately the BSOD goes away before I have time to write down any of the info, since I really don't have a clue what to write down anyway.

I ran the Dell PC Checkup today and it found no issues. I've run numerous AntiVir, AdAware and Spybot S&D scans and they find nothing.

Basically what I need to know is how to fix this. Getting frequent BSODs on a new computer is not normal, even for Vista, and if it can't be fixed I need to return it. 15% restocking fee or no, I'm not throwing my money away on a refurbished computer that apparently wasn't refurbished very well. This is my sixth day with this computer, and I'm extremely frustrated. If I do need to download the Intel driver, how can I make sure it won't kill my internet connection again? I think it's also what prompted the more-than-an-hour-long process of supposedly installing and then reverting the updates.

I had heard so many good things about Dell computers, and just as many about buying from the Outlet, but I'm starting to feel like everyone was full of crap. (My old laptop is a 4½ year old HP that has had less BSODs in 4 years than my new Dell has in five days.)

Please, please help, anyone who can! THANK YOU!

My computer's specs are:
Dell Inspiron 1720
2GB RAM
250 GB EIDE Hard Drive (5400RPM)
Intel Core 2 Duo T7250 (2.0GHz/800Mhz FSB/2MB cache)
Genuine Windows Vista Home Premium
Intel Integrated Graphics Media Accelerator X3100
Bluetooth Wireless Card 355
3945 802.11a/g Wireless Mini Card

Here's some "More Information" (from the Windows Problem & Solution Center) on the BSOD I got today:
Problem signature
Problem Event Name: BlueScreen
OS Version: 6.0.6000.2.0.0.768.3
Locale ID: 1033

Files that help describe the problem (some files may no longer be available)
Mini022608-01.dmp
sysdata.xml
Version.txt

View a temporary copy of these files
Warning: If a virus or other security threat caused the problem, opening a copy of the files could harm your computer.

Extra information about the problem
BCCode: 50
BCP1: FC800950
BCP2: 00000001
BCP3: 916E7033
BCP4: 00000000
OS Version: 6_0_6000
Service Pack: 0_0
Product: 768_1

And from last night (not a BSOD, I don't think, but the whole hanging up computer for 1+ hours):
Description
A problem caused this program to stop interacting with Windows.

Problem signature
Problem Event Name: AppHangXProcB1
Application Name: mmc.exe
Application Version: 6.0.6000.16386
Application Timestamp: 4549af41
Hang Signature: 4780
Hang Type: 128
Waiting on Application Name: svchost.exe: Plugplay
Waiting on Application Version: 0.0.0.0
OS Version: 6.0.6000.2.0.0.768.3
Locale ID: 1033
Additional Hang Signature 1: 6f03c61e13040bbcc099fdf8134bd80f
Additional Hang Signature 2: d307
Additional Hang Signature 3: 26dfc38ccc8806e33ed0c6dcb0adb49e
Additional Hang Signature 4: 4780
Additional Hang Signature 5: 6f03c61e13040bbcc099fdf8134bd80f
Additional Hang Signature 6: d307
Additional Hang Signature 7: 26dfc38ccc8806e33ed0c6dcb0adb49e

Extra information about the problem
Bucket ID: 14217456

And a BSOD from yesterday:
Problem signature
Problem Event Name: BlueScreen
OS Version: 6.0.6000.2.0.0.768.3
Locale ID: 1033

Files that help describe the problem (some files may no longer be available)
Mini022508-02.dmp
sysdata.xml
Version.txt

View a temporary copy of these files
Warning: If a virus or other security threat caused the problem, opening a copy of the files could harm your computer.

Extra information about the problem
BCCode: 9f
BCP1: 00000003
BCP2: 85243030
BCP3: 875F61B0
BCP4: 856A9008
OS Version: 6_0_6000
Service Pack: 0_0
Product: 768_1

I went through Device Manager to see what driver I have installed for my Intel wireless card, and to see if they recommend there to download a new Intel one too. It said, "the best driver software for your device is already installed. Windows has determined the driver software for your device is up to date." Now I'm more confused than ever!

 

Have you tried to format and reinstall everything ?

 

No; I was hoping to not have to do that, seeing as I've already installed all the programs I plan to use, and transferred over a lot of files from my dying HP computer. I was hoping there was some other way to fix it. But for the record, it started the blue screens and such fresh out of the box, so I'm not sure a reinstall would help anyway. Though I will try it before shipping it back. Probably.

Thanks for trying to help!