Hard disk initialization refers to the partitioning and formatting of the hard drive. In some cases, incorrect CMOS settings, a virus infecting the hard drive, or a logical lock on the hard drive may prevent the initialization of the hard drive. For CMOS setting errors, generally, resetting the CMOS to its default values can resolve the issue. Users can check if the "VIRUS WARNNING" in the BIOS FEATURES SETUP section of the CMOS settings is set to "Disable", and if not, change it and try again. If completing the CMOS settings still does not allow for hard disk initialization, users can proceed to the second step, which involves checking for viruses. A virus might damage the hard drive partition table, thus preventing the formatting process.
Original article from Hefei Data Recovery Center: http://www.cndr.cn/hydt/10908.html