The hard drive is not booting, so I tried MHDD to try and do a low level format. However MHDD is not detecting it. This is what MHDD shows:

Port 1F0h (Primary Controller)
1. [Opiacrc DVD RW AD-756A.....etc]

Port 170h (Secondary Controller)
3. [ ]

Port 100h (PC-3000 board)
5. [ ]

if any more info is needed, please say.

you need pro help.

Google Data Recovery London.

I'd bet it's a sata hdd and the onboard controller is in AHCI mode.....So go to BIOS setup and change (if you can) the controller to Compatible mode( or something like that). After that MHDD should see your hdd (of course if your hdd still have life in it)....
Rgds

_________________
www.datasave.ro

The BIOS is very basic and I can't change AHCI. The Drive is SATA and is detected in Bios though.

What is the Port 100h PC-3000 board?

I have no important data to recover, I just want to partition it so that I can reinstall windows.

Port 100h PC-3000 board is for those who have the pc3000 board form ACE....mhdd can work with that board too..
If you only want to repartition the drive why don't you start windows setup and make partitions/format with it.If the hdd is in good condition setup will do the job. If not, it's time for a new hdd ..
Rgds

_________________
www.datasave.ro

I took the hard drive out of the laptopr and connected it to my desktop PC. MHDD now detects the drive.

What should I try to do now to get it to work?

Try a SCAN with Erasewait ON....See what's happening...
Rgds

_________________
www.datasave.ro

if your drive is detected in your pc - then you can test it there for functionality
and you can repartition it there aswell.

to check whether your laptop supports the ide compatible mode you can start
the installation with the cd - and at the 2nd screen you get either a message
that the program surches for older windows installation - or it will stop and
telling you that no hdd was found.

Thats either the proof, that you have sata mode active (and thats not switchable
in older laptops to compatible mode), or that your sata port is defect (dont think so).

For installation of sata hdd in older laptops (where sata or ide mode are not selectable
within the cmos setup - you have to get/produce the diskette with the appropriate
driver for the sata chipset used in that laptop.

I bet you can find that on the vaio driver download website of vaio. Or - if you know
the chipset (Intel?) - you can download it from intel website.
Usually its a programe which expands and writes itself on a diskette.

If thats the only way - you need at least a usb floppy drive connected to the laptop
before you start with the xp installation cd. Immediately after the cd started you will
find a message on the bottom of the screen - asking to press F6 - key to install SCSI
or controller drivers - press immediately F6 (even more than once) - and then you
will be asked (several times) to insert the diskette into the drive.

Its works only with the floppy drive - no cd is possible !!! Some usb floppy drives are
not compatible .... good luck
wouldnt it be better to let it be done by a computer store - a pro ...????

+++

I will see what I can do in MHDD first. If I get no success I would be better off buying a new hard drive (about £35 on e-stores).

I have experience of loading the HD sata drivers from a floppy, when installing windows and this is not the problem. There is definately something wrong with the drive.