Re: [H] Compaq hidden partition

[Winterlight]

 This will overwrite the first 50 MB of the drive with zero's, 
wiping out any partitions, the MBR, and the first 50MB of the drive 
(which is generally where the beginning of the diagnostic partition is)

Then proceed as normal.
Christopher Fisk

Seagate's free Powertools will do that ...  but then what? How would 
I restore the MBR and make it bootable? By Booting off the XP CD and 
attempting a repair like Win2K