After installing Acronis True Image and increasing the size of the secure zone on a 74 GB Raptor I bought new 15 months ago, I have been unable to load Windows, even in another machine in which ATI was not installed nor will the hard drive format. The progress bar when Windows XP Pro would normally load continues indefinitely.The disk activity light eventually stops flickering. All of the foregoing occurs with both only one hard drive and the second hard drive connected to the motherboard. Some specs are A64 3700+, 1GB Ram, ASUS A8N-E mobo, 500 watt power supply. I would be happy just to be able to enter Windows Setup and create one new (raw) partition on this Raptor hard drive that I cannot RMA to Western Digital because I no longer have the purchase invoice. Please, any help is much appreciated.

The purchase invoice doesn't seem important. Try entering the serial number of your drive at the below site. http://websupport.wdc.com/warranty/...

Sorry I forgot. click on 'Warranty Check' at the website.

Thanks for the information,much appreciated. I resolved the issue with a freeware called DBAN, also known as Darik's Boot and Nuke from http://dban.sourceforge.net/ It wiped and erased the disk such that it was returned to its new factory state. I then was able to format the drive and install Win XP Pro. Warning: DO disconnect the power plug from all hard drives you do not wanted wiped! DBAN is capable of wiping multiple drives if you accidentally choose such.

I haven't used Boot and Nuke.Looks like a good program.Glad your okay now. I always use active killdisk. http://www.killdisk.com/

Thanks much. I downloaded it for future use.