trying to reinstall windows but when i run the install it says i need to reformat the hard drive...???

Do you want to dual boot or do you want to uses Windows alone?

The disk has Linux formatting. To install Windows you need Windows formatting - so you need to change it...

If you want to dual boot look at http://apcmag.com/how_to_dualboot_vista_with_linux_linux_is_already_installed.htm

You will need to tell vista to delete the partitions so you have space to install to. You may need to boot to ubuntu CD to delete the partitions.
Windows otherwise is not supported here. This is UBUNTU support, Not Vista support

Hi, is this dual boot Ubuntu and Windows computer?
If so what versions of Ubuntu and Windows are on there already?
Is your hard drive all one big partition or how have you split it?

Why does Vista need reinstalling? Does it not have some 'system repair'
facility that will fix things back to a save point?

Here is a useful place for Vista specific questions:
   http://social.answers.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/category/windowsvista