Erasing Time Machine hard drive after formatting for both PPC and Intel

Ok, I made a mistake. First I formatted a Western Digital 500 gig hard drive for both my wife's PPC G4 laptop and my own Intel MBP laptop, so we could both use Leopard's Time Machine for backing up to the same drive. That wasn't my mistake though, it's been working fine. I formatted my partition using the GUID option and hers using the Apple Partition Map option (I think that's what they are called, I'm going from memory).
Here's my mistake: I needed some extra space to store some files and read that I could Re-Partition the drive without erasing anything using Disk Utility. Sounded great. I first tried to partition my wife's partition, since she had more extra space, but then I realized that was a bad idea since I had formatted her partition with using the Apple Partition Map, so I stopped and then tried to Re-Partition my side. It worked for about an hour: my Time Machine backup drive appeared, my new partition appeared, but then... her partition disappeared! Usually whenever one of us plugs in the hard drive using the firewire cable, both partitions appear, Time Machine Goes to work, and that's that. When we need to disconnect from the drive we have to eject both drives, but no big deal. Now her drive isn't appearing.
So... I tried to repair it, no good. Tried to erase both her partition and mine (to just start over): no good. I can't do anything to either of these partitions now, from either computer. Tried everything I could think of in Disk Utility, from both computers. Won't erase, won't re-partition. Not a hardware issue: it all started when I did this stupid Re-Partition. Help!!!!
I want to erase the drive and start over. Can anyone advise??

Jasonmo,
First, let's talk about the various partition schemes. A partition scheme applies to the entire drive. Specifically, these are different maps written to the drive, within which volumes are created. As such, this is an either/or thing; your drive is partitioned using either the GUID Scheme, or the Apple Scheme, not both.
"Live" partitioning or re-sizing of existing volumes is supported only under the GUID Partition Scheme. If the drive wasn't using this scheme, you would not be able to re-size as you were attempting to do. Even re-sizing under the GUID scheme requires that the drive's maps and directory structures be in very good shape, if it is to work without hitch.
Are you absolutely certain that there isn't some physical problem with the drive, or with its interface (cables and such)? If it is operating normally, you should be able to re-partition it without problems. In DIsk Utility, select the drive (not a named volume that will appear indented underneath), then click the "Partition" tab. If you wish to be able to re-size volumes later, you must choose the GUID scheme from the "Options..." dialogue sheet. Set appropriate sizes for the volumes, then click "Apply." Doing so will destroy all current volumes and data on the drive.
Scott

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