Question : Windows could not load the installer for DiskDrive. Contact your hardware vendor for assistance.

I recently had a hard drive crash on a DELL optiplex gx620, running windows xp sp3.  I replaced the hard drive with one that I had on hand.  I formatted the hard drive with a windows xp sp3 disk, and tried to reinstall windows.  During the installing windows phase I keep getting the following "device installer error" message.  "Windows could not load the installer for DiskDrive. Contact your hardware vendor for assistance."  Do you think I should try another hard drive.

Answer : Windows could not load the installer for DiskDrive. Contact your hardware vendor for assistance.

Every now and then wiping/formatting with the Windows installer creates this issue. Before replacing the HDD, download and install a utility to completely wipe the HDD and run the Win installer again. I use Darik's Boot and Nuke (dban.org) but there are many utilities out there that perform the same operation.