need help, can't format HD on old gateway PC

[mcveigh]

I am trying to reformat the HD on an older gateway.
the HD is a 15GB quantum, it used to have win98 on it. I want to format it and put win2k on it but no joy.

when I boot from the win2k disc it goes fine until I select to install then the screen locks up.
I have even used a knoppix linux boot CD to fdisk it w/ no luck.
as a last resort I used DBAN, it's a boot floppy designed to securly wipre hard drives. even that doesn't work.
could gate somehow have "locked" this drive?

 

[mechBgon]

Interesting... what happens if you put the drive into another computer and try formatting it there? Might be worth a try

 

[MichaelD]

Originally posted by: mechBgon
Interesting... what happens if you put the drive into another computer and try formatting it there? Might be worth a try

I was gonna say that! Take yours back! Gateway might've put some kind of boot sector formatting on there...like on Dells, they have that small "recovery/utility" partition that boots first. Maybe it ties into the Gateway BIOS or something like that. Try it in a different machine.

 

[mcveigh]

OK I downloaded the maxblast utility, (maxtor bought quantums HD biz) and it gives the drive a clean bill of health.
I am using a gateway restore CD to fdisk and create a fat32 partition. then I will try again. if no joy I will try it in another PC

 

[mcveigh]

didn't work
OK I'm going to install in another PC I think, then swap it over

 

[Moonbeam]

I've used a utility from IBM called ZAP that worked on stubborn drives for me.

 

[mcveigh]

Originally posted by: Moonbeam
I've used a utility from IBM called ZAP that worked on stubborn drives for me.

no luck on that it only wants to work with a ibm/hitachi drive

 

[RReed]

Gateway actually has a program called gwscan that writes Zero's to the HDD, I use to work for them but not anymore. But now I would say that I still use that program on about a weekly basis, doesn't matter what kind of drive it is either.

 

[mcveigh]

I wonder if something in the bios looks for something on the HD?