If you are using the Windows restore disk that came with the laptop, it will not offer to partition the disk as it will just restore an image. In that case, with those error messages, you may have a genuine memory or disk hardware error.
If you need to test your hardware, a bootable cd containing diagnostics e.g. UBCD will provide you with disk and memory diagnostics.
Depending on how you installed Fedora13, you may still have a hidden partition on your disk containing the Dell utilities. These can be accessed by pressing one of the function keys at boot time (Usually F12). If it is still there, it contains diagnostic tools that will test the memory and the HDD.