OS installation troubles

[MAXX RS4]

OK, so everytime I restarted my computer I would get a Boot Disk Error and had to insert the XP cd.. Usually it would start right back up and everything would be fine. This last time I put the cd in windows would not load what so ever. Since there was barely anything on the hdd anyway, I figured I might as well just reformat. Well, after deleting the partition, when I would select the new partition to install a fresh version of XP, it would tell me that the selected partition is not compatible with XP files. If I recall, when I make a new partition I should be able to select whether it be a NTFS or FAT32 or whatnot - but here I have no choices at all. When I make the new partition it is labeled as RAW.

What am I doing wrong here? Untill I figure this out I can't even use my comp. Right now I'm writing this on my parent's.

Thanks guys.

EDIT:

I just swapped out the hdd to see if that was the problem. I deleted the partition and created a new one. Once again I was not able to choose NTFS, NTFS Quick or FAT32. Again, it would not install. I also tried using Win 2KPro and it does the same thing.

[cisco guy]

first thing - download drive diagnostic utility from your HDD manuf website and extract to floppy's (which will boot if bios is set to floppy as first)
then test drive to see if its any good

then try win 98 boot floppy use A:> fdisk to see part info (#4)
run A:>fdisk_/mbr twice
then make one active primary partition - C and format it
A:>format C (no s switch)
delete any other partitions so all you have is C - CDROM will be D
change boot order to CDROM first and insert XP CD.
boot
if not working put back in floppy reboot and type
A:>E: (D should be cdrom assuming no other HDD, and himem.sys takes one drive letter)
E:>setup


you can change fat32 to ntfs easily after loading O/S in disk manager

[MAXX RS4]

So, I guess this would be why I should have baught a floppy drive..

This sucks.
EDIT:
Well, I salvaged a floppy drive from another computer and got the diagnostic disk in. After setting my floppy in the boot sequence, it wouldn't do anything when I tried booting. It still gives me a BOOT DISK ERROR. This totally blows.

[MAXX RS4]

After about 6+ hours of struggling, I managed to figure it out on my own. I ended up flashing my BIOS and clearing my CMOS data..

Windows is installing as I type this..

Thanks for the help though guys..