Given the "it's broken" I think we'll have to plow ahead with what I run into and hope not to upset you.

1. The CD/DVD didn't boot.
a) I get out the CD/DVD lens cleaner, use it and then re-try the boot to the Vista DVD.
b) If 1a fails then I swap in a new DVDRW drive (these are under 20 bucks!) and try again.

More about 1b. Many consumers will dig in their heels on that and what more diagnostics, can you fix my drive? and more. As you get more seasoned on the service desk you learn to nod a lot and take it through step 1a, test with other bootable CDs and show them your USB DVDRW working and move again to swap in the new drive.

2. The webcam light. Doesn't mean much.

3. Was there any response to that F8 KEY (see google) and SAFE MODE?
Bob