config_list_failed 0x00000073

Hello, I know this is probably asked plenty of times on this forum, but I have made several searches for the specific problem I am experiencing, and can't find a solution to my exact problem, or can't seem to understand all the computer lingo .

I have about a 4 month old dell inspiron laptop 1525.
A few days ago, when booting up the cpu, it went to the dell media direct screen for a second (I didn't understand why, because I didn't press the media direct button, nor did I have a CD in), a second later, it went to the infamous blue screen saying:

A problem has been detected and windows has been shut down to prevent damage to you computer.

CONFIG_LIST_FAILED

....

Technical Info:
Stop: 0x00000073 (0x00000001, 0xC0000170, 0x00000001, 0xF6BB5BB8) <- the 5 right there could be a S, I can't read the chicken scratch I wrote down

Beginning dump of phsycial memory. Physical memory dump complete,

* I rebooted my computer a few times, and for some reason, I decided, that if the dell media direct kept coming up, i might as well put in a cd to see if that has any effect. After putting in pink floyd's the wall, the sucked worked like normal.

BUT, two days after the fact, now I am getting the same error screen, and can't do anything. I called dell and talked to one of their reps, and after running a test, he wanted me to reinstall my vista. That to me is a LAST RESORT, due to me being an idiot and not backing up my important files on my computer. Is there anything I can do that will help to save my files, or get my computer back to new without reinstalling my vista? The rep said I could take my computer to best buy or somewhere, and they could remove my harddrive, put it into another computer and extract my important files so i wouldn't loose them, but is there anything I can do?

Sorry so long, but i thought I'd make it thurough so that I could get precise answers.
Thank you so much to anyone who was willing to read this, and who could help.

Kelly