re-install Vista upgrade, can't activate!

So my HP started acting up, it's dual boot XP/Vista. I used the boot
recovery dvd's from HP to attempt to re-install XP. It caused a blue
screen, and messed up the boot sector so I can't now get to Vista
either. So after a few hours I finally gave up trying to save the data
and went for a full recovery (reformat-install XP clean) that too lead
to a blue screen So I finally get Vista to install fresh (wouldn't
allow me to install w/my code, said I had to be in windows to use the
code.) So I install Visa w/o a code, go to activate and says this had
to be an upgrade! technally it still is!
So I go to try to find an e-mail or ph # for MS and they say $59 to
talk to someone! That is BS! If I could get the boot recovery to work
I'd go back to XP and never look at vista again!

Is there anyway I'm going to be able to save this machine? I'm going
to try to contact HP, but have little faith as it's over a year old
now, but I'm sure they'd gladly sell me a boot dvd!

Thanks for any advise!