Setup interuption/ reintal drivers

Hello,
I accidentally turned off my dell inspiron 1545 laptop midway through it's operating system setup process. Now when I turn it on it sounds like it's running but the screen is black like it turned off. Dell says I have to mail it back for a new computer. Is there anyway to re-install the programs myself without being able to see the screen? I waited 3 weeks for this computer and I really don't want to exchange it. If i have to get another new one I will go with another company. I can hear the hard drive running and when I insert the "re-intall drivers"disk it does start reading it. Is there a series of keyboard keys that I can hit to make it run and hopefully reintall everything?