How do I do a low-level format/drive problem questions

[Wolfchild]

Here's the deal. I bought a used 60 gig WD from a guy to use in a new build. I think something is on that disk that isn't showing up in fdisk and it's preventing me from installing both XP and 2000 (only want to install one but I've tried both). Oddly I can partition the drive with Fdisk and install Win98 (?!?) But I think something is in there screwing with the partition manager of the other two OSs. What the computer does is hang partway into the XP/2000 installation, just before you'd be getting to the partition manager.

I've run Killdisc and get some error messages that aren't explained. It says it has erased the drive but takes about five seconds to say that. Should take much longer than that, no? The WD DataLife tools crash when I try to erase the drive or when I click on the installation program. So is there a different low-level format utility I can try?

Right now I'm using Killdisc on a spare 15 gig Maxtor and it's going about its erasing business slowly but properly...those error messages when using Killdisc on the 60 gig WD are what make me think there is some small program on there that I can't see and it's screwing me up...drive itself appears to work just fine (as I said I had a 98SE installation on it already and the drive worked just fine, also tests fine with scandisk and fdisk.) Does all of this make sense? Sorry so wordy. Next thing I am going to do is try installing 2000 or XP to the Maxtor to see if this is definitely something wrong with the WD.

 

[oldfart]

If Killdisk and the WD DLG utility are both having problems, something is wrong. You sure that the disk is good?

 

[Woody419]

I have read that Delpart will erase anything.
"DELPART is a DOS based utility that will remove NTFS partitions from hard drives. FDISK is unable to remove some types of NTFS partitions. DELPART can wipe clean a hard drive, then you can use FDISK to create partitions normally."

You can also look for hidden partitions with Ranish Partition Manager
or try Scan another low level tool from gateway. "GWSCAN is a diagnostic hard disk utility. This program allows you to verify most hard disks. There are options to check the disk, test the disk, and write zeros to the disk. " Also try later versions of
GWSCAN even if yoiu don't have a Gateway.

 

[magomago]

Try that because if its true, I might have to d/l it for future usage

 

[Afro000Dude]

Have you tried "format C:" ?