If you knew it's brand and model, you might be able to find the manufacturer's utility to run a diagnostics test on the hard drive to see if it showed hardware or media failures. If so, you replace the drive and would need the Dell restore media to get you up and running.
Have had this message on my Dell Inspiron 1525 Laptop... Cannot not get into the system at all... I have tried the Dell start-up disk, tried the F8 on intial reboot and nothing is working...
I am pretty much computer not savvy... Need some help....
Chowhound
Comic Vine
GameFAQs
GameSpot
Giant Bomb
TechRepublic