Older HDD with non-bootable linux

[Vampirrella]

I found an old 160GB IDE drive in the closet that has some version of linux on it which no longer boots.

When I hook it up as the primary drive, I can use my winxp pro cd but during the boot process it goes black and locks up.

What must happen to gain access so i can partition and reformat a prior linux install? (which doesnt boot)

 

[KeypoX]

i would think xp install disk could do it. You could alwasy download a gparted live boot disk. And format

 

[Nothinman]

The XP installer is crap and get confused very easily, using a gparted LiveCD to wipe the drive might be simpler.