Help needed - HDD Not Found

[Quetzalma]

First of all, Hi =)

"Long Version"
When I first formatted my laptop to install Win 7, I made 2 partitions, one with 300 Gb for Win7 and another one with about 50 Gb for XUbuntu(Programmation Class teacher required...), but after talking with him, I decided to use VMWare to run XUbuntu, the problem happened when I used Partition Magic to delete the smaller partition and expand the main one, I configured it and went to have something to eat, when I came back the computer was off and when I turned it on I saw the BSoD. After trying all conventional methods to solve it, I tried to re-format the hole harddisk again, but when the Win7 installer asked where to install, all my disk was gone, it said "Disk 0, Partition 0 - 0 Mb"(or something close to that), I rushed to the BIOS and there I saw that the BIOS still detected my hole HD, which brings me here..

"Short Version"
I used Partition Magic to merge 2 partitions and left computer for a bit
When I returned PC was off, when I turned it on I got BSoD
After trying whatever I could remember to fix it, I tried to reformat the PC to install Win7 again, only to find that the installer doesnt recognize my HD space(but it is detected on the BIOS)


Somehow, I think that Partition Magic must have screwed with my HDD File System or Disk Sections or something like that and that it now doesnt recognize anything in it...

Any smart brain can help me out?

Thanks in Advance
Quetzalma

 

[whs]

Well, since you want to reinstall anyhow, you could use some Linux program to reformat the disk in NTFS first. Then you should be able to install.

 

[Quetzalma]

Thanks for the fast answer =)

I dont have any Linux CD burned and my XUbuntu image was on my Laptop HDD and since nothing showed up in the Windows Installer I thought that maybe it probably wouldnt appear in Linux either, but since you're suggesting it, I might as well try(if it works, it sure beats having to wait 10-30 days to get it fixed)

Would you advise any particular Linux Distribution?

 

[Tews]

Grab a copy of Ubuntu ... run it in Live mode, format with Gparted... install Windows 7...
Welcome to the Forums!!

 

[Lunarpancake]

Grab a copy of Ubuntu ... run it in Live mode, format with Gparted... install Windows 7...
Welcome to the Forums!!

what he said ! (stole the words right out of my fingers)

 

[whs]

+1, that's it. Or Fedora on a stick ( Fedora 9 Puts Your Desktop on a USB Drive - Feature - Lifehacker ).

 

[Quetzalma]

kay, I just got back from University, so I'll get on it right now =)

Thanks to all of you for the help =)
I'll post the results after I do them =)

EDIT:
Just to let everybody know that Windows 7 is at about 50% of the installation
Thank you guys =D