Unable to format partition.. nforce controller issues?

[Master Nova]

Ok fellas....This is the story and I hope it works. Originally I purchased an original version OEM of XP for my PC, and my sister had a build computer with a non original version of XP. She finally purchased an original copy but it was an upgrade she also added a brand new Maxtor HD 160 giggs. The one before was giving some problems so she decided to add a SATA drive. To the point....I Wasn't able to upgrade having a previous version of XP, I needed an old version. I installed the new SATA HD and began to try and set a version of windows 2000 there after updating with the new original version of XP. But after the whole formatting I would get the pain in the behind error "Set up was unable to format the partition"......After much investigating this issue, I took my own original version of XP OEM and started instalation from scratch....while HD was being formatted on NTFS System I switched the CD from the OEM to the Upgrade. When it finished it still gave me the same message, but I started to format again with quick format this time and HELLO......It worked. Everything went smooth from their on until it was time to enter the Product Key.....It wanted my OEM version not the upgrade. I restarted the whole process again and this time I left the upgrade CD since the begining and formatted on the Quick way this time right off the back and everything went smooth. I read too much this day to know that it can be the software and not the HD, MOBO and so on. Try another Windows Version a friends perhaps.......
Anyhow I hope this helps....We not always have the time or the money to take the PC to get fixed so try it your self......Not only will you learn but save a lot of cash.