Computer Will Not Boot; UNMOUNTABLE_BOOT_VOLUME

When I try to start the computer, I get a message saying "A problem has been detected and Windows has been shut down to prevent damage to the computer. UNMOUNTABLE_BOOT_VOLUME."

Technical information: STOP: 0X000000ED (0X896FE30, 0XC0000006, 0X00000000, 0X00000000

The computer is a 6-year old Dell Inspiron 5100 running Windows XP 3. I have the Reinstallation CD Including Service Pack 1 but the computer will not boot from the disk.

I would like to recover files from the hard drive if possible. Thank you for any help you can offer.

Please note: I am not a computer techie by any stretch of the imagination and will need detailed instructions in layman's language.

 

Read this: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/297185 Scroll down the part about repairing the volume.You will need to be able to boot from a Windows XP CD, and it does not have to be the one used to install XP on your computer.