IBM hard drive Formatting issue

[JO90XX]

I'm trying to re format an IBM 20GB hard drive I have used the format function in XP but all it dose is get to 99% and then says Could not complete format invalid format value
I have also tried to use F disk in Win 98 boot up disk but it says I cannot delete Primary Partion while extended Partion is Present.
I have also tried to use Partion Magic on it but it says Invalid format type on start up.
Is there any way I can remove all Format types and all partions Extended, logical and Primary??
Is it possible there is an unknown type of format on the drive?
Linux or something more Obscure??
If so How do I get rid of them??
Please help..
JO90XX

 

[salmonsteak]

You stated the following:

I have also tried to use F disk in Win 98 boot up disk but it says I cannot delete Primary Partion while extended Partion is Present.

Delete the extended partition first and then you'll be able to delete the primary partition. Using FDISK do the following:

1. Select Delete Partition or Logical DOS Drive
2. Select Delete Logical DOS Drive(s) in the Extended Partition or Delete Extended DOS partition depending on how your HDD is configured.
3. Now go back and Delete the Primary Partition

Let me know how it works out.

 

[JO90XX]

But when I go to see the Extended partition it say there are no Extended partition present??
So on one had it say there are extended partitions on the outher it say there are none??

 

[salmonsteak]

Ok... using FDISK Select the option to Display partition information. If there is an extended partition it should show up there. Let me know what partition information is displayed.

 

[JO90XX]

Nope the extended partition dose not display in the Display partition information it just shows one partion and it says No extended partition present

 

[salmonsteak]

Than it's possible that the extended partition is NTFS, in which case it won't show up using FDISK. You could always get a powerful magnet and touch it to the HDD. Just kidding don't do that. In the meantime I'll look for a solution. Let me know if you accomplish this task, in case I'm ever in the same situation.