Have two different problems involving two different hard drives and laptops.
One [which laptop is probably toast] revolved around uberstudent and trying to force pae onto the system -- is a hardware problem.
The other is solely about an install problem involving Vector Linux.

On the VL problem, after trying install and ending with blank screen [had optioned for a partitioning format which allowed many primary partitions -- used 10, including /boot], then
had problem getting a screen again, but trying full new install from scratch enabled me to get to where could delete all previous partitions, and installed very limited core ones swap / /home /usr.
Repeated process of full new install twice, but kept getting same ending:
message: "bootloader did not install correctly"
tried to correct with the click option, but no go
finished the data input [password, users, etc.]
when finished and rebooted got nothing but grey screen with box listing hard drives 1 and 2 and floppy, which after clicking and seconds running down ends with nothing
rebooted using install cd
entered "linux root=/dev/hbd1 ro"
Enter
get screen which goes no where and ends with line "kernel_thread_helper + 0x6/0x10"
several lines above that on this dead screen is "kernel panic - not syncing:VFS:unable to mount root fs on unknown block (0)"

Any leads appreciated, as no idea how to proceed now that new install from scratch got me nowhere.

laptop 1 with PAE & hardware problem needs repair, I imagine. I would try a boot cd and see if it runs. If so, fsck the disk & reinstall. If not, repair or recycle.

Laptop 2 with VL problem. You've used GPT, and doing that often invokes UEFI if it's there. SPueak to us about UEFI.

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Listing partition table got; WARNING: Unsupported GPT (GUID Partition Table) detected on '/dev/sda'!
The util fdisk doesn't support GPT. Use GNU Parted.

In trying to replace GPT with Gparted was told unable to open /dev/hda and with cfdisk get note: have 'Bad primary partition 0: Partition ends in the final partitial cylinder.

After deleted all previous partitions, when try new install still get a Gparted program which starts by specifying under "Device Information' that have
"Partition table: gpt"

How do I get rid of gpt [install while that in place ends with no usable OS]?
Should I just wipe [dd] the full disk? And do I need to take any special precautions to insure can still use the disk?

Have you tried booting gpt, & deleting all partitions?
If it still shows gpt, try replacing the boot sector (512 bytes)with one from an fdisk partition with dd. Something like the following with the blanks filled in.

It seems for me like you suggest to replace partition table with MFT.
Or may be it's just a typo? Is it really should be sdXn, not a sdX?

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Just to be clear, since one member believes the sdXn to be a typo, or could it be the n refers to number?
So I should use: dd if=/dev/sda(n or 0 or 1 or nothing?) of=/dev/sda bs=512 count=1

To eliminate the gpt, use gdisk. You can find information here. You do not want to mix MBR and GPT, use one or the other. GPT is fine, but it's somewhat new and requires some knowledge. Read the page I linked carefully, and you should be able to get things sorted out.

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FYI, I am typing with ne hand here. Left arm paralysed atm.

/dev/sdXn = /dev/sd(letter)(number), to save me trying to guess what the letters are now. I presume this is a second disk somewhere, or is it your / drive?

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