fdisk fails?

Are you sure the disk is OK? You could always check by running the IBM disk manager or the ON TRACK program. If it fails with this one as well, I would check either the HDD, BIOS settings or motherboard functionality.
 
I've had a hard drive not recognized because of a power problem. Rather odd ball but its possible.

:tongue: <font color=green> I LOVE INTEL. It tastes like chicken </font color=green>
 
When you boot up on your boot disk, can you then go to the c: prompt?, I dont know wether you are fdisking a new hdd or an existing one, if you are fdisking a new one and fdisk wont open, then that is a worry, check that the hdd is connected correctly and you can hear it spinning up, could be you have a loose wire somewhere