Crashing during factory reset

Hrmm. I suspect that you're right. By "system failure" in this context I assume you mean something broken in the low-level hardware that can't be modified by users? Or is there something I can do? Any chance that it's a RAM failure, for example, even though the RAM check from the boot menu told me that it was fine?

I don't think it's a shortage of power -- that same UPS is also supporting two other ReadyNAS boxes (both of which are doing fine), a SonicWALL firewall, and a smart switch. But it could be, conceivably, that the particular plug that this box is plugged into is problematic, so I can test that. First by just plugging into the wall, I think, as you suggest.

The UPS is "new" -- though it is "new" from a refurbisher who installed new batteries. Conceivably they are pathetic batteries, though this refurbisher does a lot of business in the area and focuses a lot on repeat business, so I suspect they aren't in the sell-and-run game.

Thanks much -
Thom