:eek: I received a new laptop that did not have an operating system on it from my fathers company while trying to format it, it keeps getting to 73 percent of the format then it states not ready format terminated. When I was trying the start up disk it would do the same things but then come up with a partition error please help me.

Try http://www.dewassoc.com/support/useful/boot_disks.htm and scroll down the page till you see Systems Tools heading.Read Delete Partitions Easily with DELPART,very carefully!
Click-on the word Delpart,just underneath,and download the exe file.This will get rid of all partitons on your hard drive,so you can start afresh.
I hope this helps.Bare in mind if you aim to install XP on the laptop,it will take up nearly 1gb for an install.Plus activation via Microsoft of course.If your not,then Windows 98 SE,or ME will be fine,as Microsoft are continuing support for it,after loads of customer complaints moaning that the 'plug' was going to be pulled last year.Maybe you will install Linux? :)
All the best,
Nez.

Xtra Thought.

Er,not ME.It's hopeless!