Vista install attempt render my drive useless? I need help

[357mag]

I recently installed vista on one of my HDD didn't like it so I wanted to go back to my XP. so i pop in my xp cd and deleted the partition and I get an error message saying that the HDD isn't in windows format or something like that press enter to choose another partition.

I tried installing Kubuntu on the HDD that vista 'screwed' up and it worked so then i loaded my xp cd and deleted the kubuntu partition still the same error so then I installed my xp on my other partition it worked and I downloaded WDs format utility and instructed it to write zeros on the kubuntu partition......will this work or will I have to RMA my HDD???


just a note:

the vista copy is a retail copy not the 'upgrade' disc so when i installed it I did a clean install
When I try to install Windows XP on the deleted vista partition it says its not in a windows xp compatible format. Will I have to rma my newly bought HDD or is there a work around

 

[calebb]

WinXP doesn't recognize the data in your MBR.

Try using Vista diskpart (from the vista command prompt) or fdisk /mbr

Search this forum for more details since this has come up many times.

 

[Max Mike]

Download the hard drive manufactures HD tools and do a low level format.