First can you run the diagnostics? Its suspect that the hard drive might have failed. See my Windows Reinstallation Guide Page 408:

http://philipyip.wordpress.com/dell-community-forums/

Hi, thanks for your reply Natakuc4. I apologize for the sloppy post. It was 2 in the morning! I cleaned it up today- it is more intelligible. So, you may want to review again.

Run diagnostics? Well the Startup diagnosis I listed in original post: Root cause found: Partition table is corrupt on disk \Device\Harddisk0.  Forgive my ignorance but is there another diagnostics test you would like me to run? I will look up & read your reinstall guide right now.

Natakuc4 - Philip?    I ran the test- Pre-boot System Assessment  " No problems have benn found with this system so far."

It asked if I wanted to run the remaining memory test so I ran that. After the test a window appeared: Booting Dell Diagnostic Utility press any key( to initiate)" I did but the computer didn't seem to do anything. I noticed in the left upper corner "No loader"  The memory test results seem to indicate a Pass on all tests though.

Okay so the hardware seems good if the diagnostics passed.

The next thing to try is a StartUp Repair, using the Windows Vista Reinstallation DVD see page 387 of the guide.

If you can't get the StartUp repair to work you should attempt to perform data recovery following the instructions on page 412 and then perform a clean installation page 6 to upgrade to 7 (recommended) or page 144 to clean install Vista. 

That command prompt was in regard to using Sytem Restore I guess you have to know the location of the Windows installation. Something like: rstrui.exe /OFFLINE:C:\Windows  Not sure if this is right for mine and I'm a little afraid to start tampering.  

I've done this (ran Startup Repair) as you prescribe at least 10 times before.( Look at my original post) Problem is there isn't any OS to choose- NONE LISTED ! in the System Recovery Option box. On page 390 of your guide your example shows "Windows 7" and a drive location my box HAS NOTHING.

My only option here is to, as it says in the lower gray section of the window, is: "If you do not see your operating system listed, click Load Drivers to load drivers for your hard disks. If I click the Load Drivers button a pop-up box titled "Add Drivers" appears and instructs "Insert the installation media for the device and click OK to select the driver."

What I should do here?  

I was looking at another forum where someone suggested that a Command prompt could be entered. Any ideas?

I would really like to avoid reinstallation!

Follow the instructions I mentioned with regards to booting up with a Linux live CD/USB and recovering your Data.

You should be able to see if the folders are still present on your hard drive. e.g. the Windows folder, Program Files, user Files etc.

The drivers you are enquiring about are the F6Flpy drivers and are explained in Step 6 of A Clean Install of Windows Vista (Page 163).

You need the extracted files on the USB stick and not the .exe. http://ftp.dell.com/SATA/R205900.exe 

It should then be similar to page 177 and 178 when you load the drivers. Hopefully the StartUp Repair will be able to see the installation and then repair it.

Hey great post, you saved the day! Thank you very much.

After being in my BIOS without changing anything operating the system was missing.

Tried everything. tested hard drives ayadiyadiyada......set bios back to factory....nothing.

Then I read your post but figured setting back to factory should have the same result, but it did not so I tried what you suggested and voila...all is working.

Thanks again,

Remko