IBM/Hitachi 180GB Deskstar HDD

[ryaninhb]

I just spent the past two days trying to format my new IBM/Hitachi Hard Drive (180GB 7200RPM ATA133 8MB DESKSTAR), but am getting error after error. When I used Disk Management in WinXP, it stopped at 100% of the format, simply stating that the format had failed. I then tried using format /FS:NTFS from the safe mode command prompt, the error was more specific: "First NTFS Boot Sector is unwritable. Second NTFS Boot Sector is unwritable. Format Failed." I then tried FDISK and FORMAT while in DOS (using Win98SE boot disk), and I was able to delete, partion, and then format the hard drive, but in FAT32. When I tried to convert it using Partition Magic 8 and convert.exe, both froze and corrupted the disk, forcing me to start over. I now have a disk with mangled partitions (I can't even delete, create, format to FAT32 anymore... there is no partition to delete in FDISK, yet only 8 megs remains available for the creation of a new partition). Kill me. Any ideas? I am pretty close to just getting ready to take it in an uncomfortable place... by thenerds.net, which apparently has a very "selective" return policy. Thanks in advance.

 

[foofoo]

hi,
try downloading the ibm/hitachi disk drive diagnostic tool (drive fitness test). they should allow you to completely wipe the hd and start over. they will also tell you if the drive is functional or damaged.
link
good luck