PartedMagic secure (ATA) erase: NULL error

[Mac20nine]

I'm trying to get some old dell Latitudes working but a hard drive had data on it. Tried OBCD's PartedMagic and 'Disk (External), writing 'dd' over all after I deleted the partition. Tried my 8.1 install disc but it gives Recovery error 'your pc needs to be repaired' (but not enough ram for a ramdisk).

Tried PM's secure erase 'Internal" w/writes zeros over all but get the error 'A password is to be used in conjunction w/this command.' Enter or use NULL, but when I do I receive 'In event of an unexpected issue ...' could brick the drive.

I'm afraid other methods may also brick the drive. Sure, it's an old tiny drive on a crap laptop but should I try FDISK or some other method from UBCD? If I can solve this I'm sure my install will work. Alternatively, might there be something in the Bios that's causing problems, w/I can alter using UBCD?


Thanks in advance for any assistance,

Mac

[Mac20nine]

Wow. 78 reads and no clue. OK, then.

[patio]

It's possible that noone here has a solution to a failing HDD...

[Geek-9pm]

In his case it might be either the HDD or the motherboard. Hard to tell.  Testing the HDD when it is also the system drive is a tough job if the drive is flaky. Easy if the HDD is OK and the issue is only file allocation issues.
If here has another PC at hand, he can try testing the HDD using an external adapter  on the other PC.
Here are two recent  CH links:
https://www.computerhope.com/issues/ch001091.htm
Above has links to free HDD test programs.
Below suggest you make sure it is not the driver software.
https://www.computerhope.com/issues/ch001088.htm

The fact is, most errors are caused by software (such as drivers) related problems, not by a failing hardware device.