How to partition and format a dead windows computer.

[OErjan]

you DO know that there is a good chance that that disk contains a hidden partition with recovery data needed to use the recovvery disk right?
if not check on it.
my guess is that the disk is near dead, I would try cfdisk, it MAY work, just remove all partitions and write changes, then quit and start qtparted.
If the solution above does not work type this in a console,

sudo dd if=/dev/urandom of=/dev/hda

and let it run untill it erors with no space left or some such, then you use procedure above again, if that does not work... disk is near dead imho.