Vista Reinstall: Unable to format the selected partition

Run the Dell diagnostics, you may have a failing hard drive.

http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/ins1420/en/OM/trouble.htm#wp1061039

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Hi, mobodog. I've run the Dell Diagnostics disk and it looks like everything passed except for a speaker issue (4C00:0619) and a timeout while testing the Audio with the Interrupt test (1B63:0268). What do you think is the next step?

Thanks!

A search for that specific error message turned up the following information on the Vista forums, which ultimately resolved the user's problem formatting the drive:

http://www.vistax64.com/general-discussion/199742-failed-format-vista-x64-ultimate-0x80070057.html

Give that a try and see if it helps.

See next post

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Hmm... unfortunately, I don't think I can apply that solve to my problem. I am unable to format the drive, which is what I think that person did to solve his issue. I am also stuck at the stage where I am reinstalling Vista. I cannot even access a desktop.

Sorry if I'm misreading the instructions at that link, but is there another approach you recommend? Thanks!

No, he didn't format the drive because he is having the same issue as you.  Vista could not see the drive, the problem you seem to be having.  It was suggested to check the BIOS for how the drive is set up, SATA or IDE.  In some cases in order to format and install Vista, you must provide an additional driver for the computer to see the drive you are working with.  This is done by hitting F6 I believe during the initial Vista install screen to supply the additional driver.  It will then see your C: drive and you can format it.  He also recommended taking the drive out and putting it into another PC as a second drive and formatting it that way, setting it up properly and placing it back into the original PC.  If it can't see it in yours, but it can be seen as a slave drive in another PC then you can continue troubleshooting.

The 2nd user fooled Vista by beginning the install with a Windows XP disk, letting it format the drive, then swapping disks and installing Vista on the newly formatted drive.

The 3rd user used a similar way as the first, by placing the drive in another pc and determining that the MBR was bad and the partition where Vista was was raw data.  He too formatted it in the other computer then placed it back into his existing one and installed Vista.

So there are several options dealing with your inability to see the drive and Vista to format it and install.  I would check to see that you don't need a controller driver during initial install in order for Vista to see the drive properly.

Mombodog,

Since I can't access a desktop, I tried running chkdsk from the command prompt using the reinstall disk to get me there. Problem: the command prompt starts on D:. When I try to change directory to C:, I'm told that the drive is corrupt. Am I doing something wrong? Is there another option?

Thanks so much!

Thanks again, Marikesh. Here's where we're at with trying to reinstall my vista / have my computer recognize my Inspiron 1420's hard drive:

ATTEMPT 1: After booting from the Vista installation disk, I clicked "Repair Vista" and accessed the option to install drivers. Here, I saw an icon for the C: drive and right-clicked it.

1. First, I entered the Properties area and tried to check the C: disk. Received this error: "The disk check could not be performed because Windows cannot access the disk."
2. Then, I tried to format the disk using the option in the right-click menu. Choosing Format did not do anything or open any screens. I tried it several times.
3. Finally, I tried to click into a deeper sub-tree of the C: drive. I couldn't get beyond the C: icon.

ATTEMPT 2: Since I was in the Load Drivers area already, I tried to provide the SATA drives drivers for my computer. I used the file on the webpage linked below. I was able to load these drivers successfully onto my computer using a flash bdrive. However, the C: drive was still not recognized.

ATTEMPT 3: I tried the 2nd user's solve: installing with Windows XP to format the drive. I receive an error message: "Setup did not find any hard disk drives installed on your computer. Make sure any hard disk drives are powered on and properly connected to your computer, and that any disk-related hardware configuration is correct. This may involve running a manufacturer-supplied diagnostic or setup program." I had to exit setup from there.

Next Steps:

1. My BIOS is set to AHCI, not ATA. Should I change this and try something else for the reinstallation?
2. I'm really concerned about taking my drive out and trying it in another PC. I wouldn't know a hard drive if I was staring right at it. Also, since it's a laptop, I'm assuming I'd have to put it in another laptop, which I don't have access to. Is there any other option for me to fix these issues?

I appreciate your patience and assistance with this issue. I have my fingers crossed that this is not a hardware problem.

Could you please confirm that bios actually sees the hdd (hit F2 at startup).

On attempt 3, did you supply the driver again at initial installation where it asks you to press F6 to install any other drivers?  XP may need that driver in order to see your hard drive.  Getting your hands on an ultimate or Hiren's boot CD would be useful as it could help resolve MBR issues and the sort.  But I would like to know what the other user asked, if your BIOS is even seeing the drive in there.  Vista sees SOMETHING apparently, but the drive itself seems to be corrupted in some way.  Still not clear on if it's a bad drive or not.  XP not seeing it at all leads me to believe its some sort of misconfiguration or missing driver for the controller or the drive itself if its some sort of unique configuration.

Marikesh

I appreciate any help you might have to offer. I've written a long response about the most current state of my issue, including the BIOS, here: http://en.community.dell.com/forums/p/19323976/19681337.aspx#19681337

Here is what happened when I retried step 3 according to the note above. I've also tried the BIOS, as described below this information. I think I'm still stumped and would appreciate any advice.

1. I inserted the XP reinstallation disk (to reload Vista on my computer). I boot from this disk.

2. As soon as the blue "Windows Setup" screen appears, I'm tapping F6, but the computer doesn't seem to respond to this. It continues loading the XP files onto the computer.

3. When it is complete, I receive a screen with the following message:

Setup could not determine the type of one or more mass storage devices installed in your system, or you have chosen to manually specify an adapter. Currently, Setup will load support for the following mass storage device(s):

• To specify additional SCSI adapters, CD-ROM devices, or special disk controllers for use with Windows, including those for which you have a device support disk from a mass storage device manufacturer, press S.

• If you do not have any device support disks from a mass storage device manufacturer, or do not want to specify additional mass storage devices for use with Windows, press Enter

4. When I press S, a second blue screen appears that reads:

Please insert the disk labeled 

Manufacturer-supplied hardware support disk

Into Drive A:

Press Enter when ready

5. I'm unsure what Drive A: is. To be safe, I insert the Drivers and Utilities CD "For Reinstalling Dell Inspiron Computer Software" into my CD drive. Then, I insert a USB flashdrive that has the Intel Matrix Storage Manager - Notebooks files on it. I don't know if these are the files I need. Do you know if this is correct? 

6. When I press Enter, the computer does not respond. Finally, I have to press ESC, and I'm returned to the "Setup was unable to load..." screen mentioned above. I press Enter to continue. The screen tells me to reinsert the Windows XP reinstallation disk. I do, and press Enter. Setup loads the remaining files, and then it tells me that it is starting Windows. I ask it to install a new copy of Windows XP.

7. The computer asks me if I want to delete the partition: C: Partition1 [FAT32} 7646 MB <3519 MB free> on 7649 MB Disk on disk [MBR]. I delete it.

8. I choose, "set up Windows XP on the selected item", which is 7648MB of unpartitioned space. I receive this error message:

Your computer's startup program cannot gain access to the disk containing the partition or free space you chose. Setup cannot install Windows XP on this hard disk.

This lack of access does not necessarily indicate an error condition. For example, disks attached to a SCSI adapter that wasn't installed by your computer manufacturer or to a secondary hard disk controller, are typically not visible to the startup program unless special software is used. Contact your computer or hard disk controller manufacturer for more information. On x86-based computers, this message may indicate a problem with the CMOS drive type settings. See your disk controller documentation for more information.

Press Enter to continue

9. I'm returned to the Partitioning options. I choose "create a partition in the unpartitioned space, C. I choose the maximum size of 7640. A partition is created that is 7640 MB with 3519 MB free. I press Enter to setup Windows XP on the selected item. I receive the same message as in #8.

From here, I have no other option but to F3 Quit.

BIOS

I entered the bios on startup with F2. I do not how to tell whether the Bios sees the HDD (which I guess means Hard Disk, right?) Anyway, I'm listing anything that might be relevant. Thanks for advice on what to do next!

Boot Sequence: Diskette, Internal HDD, USB Storage, CD/DVD/CD-RW Onboard NIC

Memory Info: Memory Installed 2048 MB, Memory Available 2046MB, Tech DDR2 SDRAM

Device: Primary Hard Drive 120 GB HDD, Fixed Bay Device = DVD+-RW

SATA is AHCI

Performance: HDD Accoustic Mode is on Bypass

POST: Fast boot is set to minimal