Hard Drive/boot-up issue

For some reason,and my hair is being pulled out by the strand, I have a hard drive problem that seems to thwart me at every attempt.

I can't reload the OS on it. Just goes around and around despite what option you hit.

I can't fdisk
I can't chkdsk
I can't fix boot
Half the dos commands via the recovery area aren't recognised.
Deleting the partition does but it seems to reappear back as it was with same issues.
Formatting it seems not to do anything soft or long versions.

I can fix mbr
I have got data on it and the drive is all OK it wise.
Bio recognizes the HD and for the size it is.


Has anybody got any clue that doesn't include hammers and a new wig for me?

what format is your drive ntfs or fat32 ,,if its fat 32 change it to ntfs

to boot from your o/s cd you need to set it to boot from cd rom in your bios

Gris,
I run into this sometimes with the 12 computers I have in the class I teach. I find that the answer is sometimes as simple as changing the cable that connects the HD to the mobo.

Right then I've done this.

Swapped cables and the area they go in. Re-changed boot up sequence. Took the battery out to clear the CMOS.

The HD was NTS running XP home.

The only thing I can think of is it is some form of partition error. But I can't find a way round to wipe the HD clean. Everything seems to come to a halt or won't proceed.

HD is OK, I ran a check it seems to be fine hardware wise.

I'll try that.

Just found out my drive is full of red bad sectors and luckly for me, it being a Seagate is still under warrenty. Apparently they cover their HD's for 5 years.

So if I can't wipe it its going back to them for a new replacment.