HD Install :: Error occurred while creating filesystem

I am trying to install DSL to my toshiba portege 3440CT laptop. but when i run the hd install thing it shows this

Quote

Creating filesystem ext2 on /dev/hda1
An error occurred while creating the filesystem

anyone know any reasons this owuld be happening?

do i need to name my partition hda1?

When the script asked what partition you wanted to install to, did you answer "/dev/hda1" or "hda1".

You need to answer just plain "hda1"

problem was my partition was erased

original here.