DOS FREEZE!?!? help

Hi,
In an attempt to preform a clean install of windows xp, i attempted to format my fujitsu 8gig HD using the XP CD in dos. However, mid format DOS froze....in addition, if i tried to repair an install using DOS, the computer would freeze...what would cause this...i thought Dos was supposed to be "dependable operating system"......is this a sign of HD failure (my hd has 4kb bad sector)......I finally got the drive to reformat by using a fan to blow on the hard drive.

 

The drive sounds bad if you have bad sectors already marked and you need a fan to cool it. Just doesn't sound like a good situation to install any OS on let alone XP. Get a new drive.

 

as long as we're talking about a new drive......my system has "ultra dma 33" (im assuing thats ATA 33)......most new drives use ata 100...what would i need to use them?......

 

You can use newer drives on that interface, they will just run slower. You can alsways add an ATA100 controller if you want all the benefits of the faster drive.

 

How expensive is this type of controller/how much slower does the drive run

 

I believe that WD is giving away a free ATA100 controller with their 120GB drives. Look on pricewatch....they are as low as $16