DELL XPS 8300 - windows 7 - Error Code 2000-0142

This week I decided up upgrade the RAM on my machine from 8GB to 16GB.

I have a DELL XPS 8300, running Windows 7.

Replacing the RAM went as normal, but after I rebooted, it began the startup process, flashed a msg, and restarted, taking me to a screen saying that my machine could not boot up correctly, and that I could either start windows as normal, or go to windows startup repair.

If I pick start as normal, it starts to boot, then eventually goes back to the same screen.

If I pick windows startup repair, it goes through a scan that takes quite a while (an hour?), and eventually comes back saying that windows could not boot.

I've tried:

- reseating the RAM (no change)

- replacing the old RAM sticks (no change)

- booting to safe mode (no change)

- going to the boot menu, and running the dell specific pre-startup scan.

Running that, It scans all my devices, which come back ok, except my HD:

Error Code 2000-0142

Which seems like the HD failed.  Kind of an odd co-incidence here.

I went in and re-seated the power and SATA connections for the drive, and restarted, and found the same issue.

Any other suggestions, or is the end of the line for that drive?  

From what I recall, I don't have a DELL windows restore disk - everything was "backed up" on the drive itself.  Is it possible to get a disk that will let me get my OS / initial system back if I install a new HD?

Thanks!