Rescue System hda1 Probs

I was trying to boot a rescue system so I could perform an fsck on hda, but booting from the first cd of SuSE 8 or 7.3 the computer locks at partition check for hda1. The computer is a Dell L866r desktop PIII 866. What is causing this? Is there some other preferred way to boot and run an fsck? Please Help Peter Akre