I suggest booting from the Windows CD and hitting "R" to enter the recovery console. Then run "chkdsk /f" to check and repair the partition. :-)

 

After that, try your install again.

I'll give it a go, but I'm sure I've already tried it and it said the repair could not continue or something.  This is slightly concerning because I'm planning on formating my current drive as well due to a partition mistake.  All I did with the old drive was to run the Windows Reinstallation CD on it and it failed to reinstall, but also wiped all data from it.  If the same happens to my new drive I'm stuck without any drive at all.

Have you tried deleting the partition and recreating it; then installing?

 

If that does not work, I would use a 3rd party formatting utility such as partition magic, and then select "install leaving partition in tact" which is the last option on the format menu. 

Unfortunately, I can't use partition magic because the HD won't boot and therefore I cannot download partition magic onto the machine.

 

I just assumed that to format the drive and reinstall Windows all I had to do was insert the Windows Reinstallation CD and follow instructions.  I'm worried that if I do that with my new HD I'll ruin that as well.

That's too bad. Perhaps you could attach the hard drive to another bootable computer to repair it.

 

Normally your correct. That procedure, to reinstall,  `should` work.

 

I use a device such as this one http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16812232002 to attach hard drive to my computer and work on them. Perhaps a good investment if your doing that kind of thing.

 

Happy Holidays!

Perhaps your hard drive manufacturer has a DOS utility that can diagnose and repair your drive.

The computer is bootable, just not the HD, so I suspect if I attach it to another computer the same will happen.

 

Anyway, season's greetings and thanks for your help.