Hi brewcitychas,

It could be a registry error or a bad hard drive as suggested by SpeedStep.  Also check if the hard drive data and power cables are connected properly. You will need to run the hardware diagnostics by follow the steps provided below:

1. Insert the Resource CD
2. Restart the computer.
3. When the Dell logo appears, press immediately. If you wait too long and the operating system logo appears, continue to wait until you see the Microsoft Windows desktop, and then shut down the computer and try again.
4. When the boot device list appears, highlight “CD/DVD drive” and press .
5. When the Dell Diagnostics main menu appears, select the extended test.

Please reply to this message with the result of the diagnostics.

“To know more about Dell’s products, services and drivers & downloads, please go to http://dell.to/QjjZDA “

This is, in fact, a corrupt registry error.

\Windows\system32\config\system

status: 0xc00000e9

Info:  Windows failed to load because the system registry file is missing, or corrupt.

The Cause

A missing or corrupt registry can have various causes:

- An accidental writing error by the computer.

 This can just be a glitch, but can also happen if the computer loses power before it has time to shutdown properly.

- The installation of a badly written program.

 This could be a program you installed, or even an automatic update via the internet.

 (Some on the forum believe it may even be a recent Windows Vista update from Microsoft themselves).

- Contamination by a computer virus.

 (This could have been hidden in something that was downloaded from the internet).

- A bad/worn out , dying hard drive.

 (Unfortunately hard drives don't last forever, but if you're lucky it may still be within warrantee).

Rajath N - thank you for the response.  I inserted teh "Operating System - Reinstalling DVD" in the CDROM drive and did perform the steps you outlined.  Still received error.  Is this the correct disk for the activity you are suggesting?

Also, when you say to "check hard drive data and power cables", is that inside the desktop unit/CPU box?

thank you again for your help.

SpeedStep - thank you.  my spouse did abrubpt turn the power off the entire unit by flipping power switch on power strip, so I am hoping it is the first item you mention.  ideas for fixing?

You would have to reinstall from scratch.:emotion-9: