[newbie] pcmcia problems

[mixam]

help,
first attempted linux install on laptop, mandrake 7.0,
install seems to run ok, then on rebooting to launch,
machine freezes when starting pcmcia. Tried various 
routes on the configuration set-up, including omitting 
pcmcia set-up, but always stalls on reboot.
can someone also give me a pointer about how to clear my 
harddrive completely to eliminate corruptions.
tangled and baffled,
m.