My Sony Vaio VGN-FS415M has decided to stop working on me?

It will not allow me to do a System Restore, and I can't do a complete Recovery either even from the Recovery Disc. I try to open the VAIO recovery Utility but it doesn't do anything.
I also have lost the Network Connections. I can't open them either, along with other Programs.
Does anyone have any idea what I can do.
I know there is a System Recovery loaded onto the laptop but I wondered if I did a total Format, would it also delete the program?
Thanks for anyones help in advance.