Unsupported change in your master boot record.

Has the number of partitions been changed since the computer was delivered?  PC Restore only works if it can see the original partition layout.  For detailed information, see Dan Goodell's page found here:  Inside the Dell PC Restore Partition

The has not been changed that I know of.  The computer still shows a "C" drive and  an "E" drive.  As far as I know the "E" drive is the one that restores the laptop but like I said, when I try it say it can't because the master boot record has been changed.  I don't know what to do after that.

Have you tried other methods of getting these functions to work?  You may be able to get them working if you reload the drivers for those devices.  If you want to try, the downloads for the Inspiron 6000 are here:  Inspiron 6000 Drivers.

If that doesn't do it, there are some other things you can try.  Otherwise, regrettably, unless you are willing to study the document found at the link I provided, the only way you will get the machine running is to perform a manual installation using the CDs that should have been delivered with your laptop.

The short version of what is happening is that someone has used a partition editor to add a partition to the drive, or perhaps it was delivered with an error to begin with.  When you use the CTRL_F11 option to restore the computer, first thing that happens is that it checks to see that you have the same number of partitions that existed on the computer originally.  Following that, it looks in the third partition to make sure it is the correct type of partition and to verify that the program has the correct signature.  If all of that checks out, the restore program will replace the contents of your C drive with the image from the restore partition.  The restore program, by telling you that the MBR has been changed, is saying that it can't find something it needs, so it aborts.

The Dell Restore program depends on having the disk partitioned into three segments; first, a utility partition that gets booted when you choose Diagnostics after pressing F12 at boot-up.  The second partition is normally your C drive and is the largest of the three.  The third partition normally contains the PC Restore image.  From what I understand, if you ordered a laptop with Media Direct this layout may be changed to add a fourth partition for use by that function.  In that case the restore image may be in the fourth partition.

All the things I have told you are covered on Mr. Goodell's page and if you click on the title in my first post your browser will be directed there.  You may be able to use Mr. Goodell's utilities to repair your MBR.

Good luck!

First, I apologize if my response was offensive in any way.  I obviously made a mistake in assuming that you had not followed the link or read Mr. Goodell's information.

Second, there is obviously a problem with the system restore works.  Mr. Goodell has a program entitled DSRFix that can, in some cases, correct the MBR on Dells that use the PC Restore method for Windows XP.  I realize it is a bit long and can be complex, but no one understands PC Restore better than Mr. Goodell.  Incidentally, with PC Restore you do not get a drive letter assigned to the partition as the partition table is edited to hide it.  It is made accessible only during the PC Restore process by special code in the Dell MBR.

Third, Dell eliminated the Media Reduction effort nearly three years ago.  I guess you must have been caught in the middle of it as my own Inspiron 5160 came with all disks, and I ordered that machine in October of 2004.  If you want to give Dell a shot at supplying reinstallation CDs, and you live in the U.S., you can use this form to request them:  Dell Replacement Disks.  If you live outside the U.S., you may still be able to get them by contacting Dell Tech Support, explain you never received the disks due to the Media Reduction Program, and ask for replacements.  There is of course no guarantee that you will get everything you should have received after this much time has passed, but most people I've helped on this subject have been satisfied with the result.

I wish you the best of luck, and a Happy New Year.

You don't have to get uppity about it.  I'm not a novice when it comes to computers.  I don't know how long you have been doing this but I have been building and servicing computers for 23 years.  Yes, I tried uninstalling the original driver for the sound and downloading the one from Dell and reinstalling it but still no sounds.  I followed your link to Goodell's page, in fact, I found it before I contacted you in the first place and it's very confusing.  I didn't really understand most of what he was talking about.  It has way too much info and is arranged so that it's very hard to understand and follow.  It's written like someone with lots of college learning and no common sense wrote it.  Kind of like most information you find on line about computers.  Your talking about it should have three partitions and I originally told you it only shows a "Local Disk (C:)" and "DISE_BACKUP (E:)".  If it had another partition it should have another drive latter asigned to it and there's not one.   As far as someone having used a partition editor to add a partition to the drive, that didn't happen.  Trust me I know for a fact it didn't, I know this computer.  I would have done a manual reinstall of everything with the CD's it SHOULD HAVE come with but apparently you don't know your Dell computers very well.  To save money and cause problems later, it wasn't shipped with CD's, like most if not all Dells these days.  Apparently your probably correct in stating that Dell shipped it with an error to begin with.  That wouldn't surprise me in the least these days.  No one care about quality anymore, just getting products out and making money.  If you don't believe me, just look where Gateway wound up.  It's not going to surprise me if Dell goes the same way.  I guess the best thing we can do with it is sell it as is and let someone else worry about it.  Of course that's going to make them think twice about buying a Dell in the future, just like it has us.  Thanks for nothing.