Ken try cleaning the hdd completely with low level format tool. free software
http://www.downloadjunction.com/product/store/26582/index.html
I had an old 60 gig hdd with errors on it sectors etc...
did low level format with this tool and installed an os no problem.The tool will map the drive as its formatting. This is not a normal format it strips the drive completely clean fixes errors it may have..for a clean instal of the os..
regards john.. 
Ken Vickery <[log in to unmask]> wrote: Stats: 1.80 gigahertz Intel Pentium; 512 Mb ram; bus 100 Mhz; C: 160 gbyte WD hd; D: 43 gbyte WD hd; Sony DVD-RW.  I think my XP Pro disks are SP1.

Before donating my 'old' computer to our church, I chose to give them a clean operating system with all my old files and tweaks removed.  I'm 'simply' doing a total reinstall of my XP PRO which was already on the drive.  I loaded my XP Pro CD into my DVD-RW and booted from the CD.  All went well through the formating and the first stage of installation.  BUT then, after it rebooted itself, it began to continue installing more files -- seeminly starting with 39 minutes until completion.  At 34 minutes to go, it works a while and then the little activity indicator at the bottom of the screen freezes and soon afterwards the harddrive activity stops.  I even let it sit for 8 hours one time and nothing more happened.

I have tried this process about 4 times on my original C Drive, reformatting NTFS each time, and each time it 'locks up' at the same place.

I have connected my D Drive as my C Drive and tried to run the installation again.  Everything is normal and continues as before until it reaches that 34 minute mark.  I've tried it again and it will not get passed the 34 minute mark.

I can only guess my installation disk has gone bad over the years.

Any suggestions?

TIA

Ken

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                         PCBUILD's List Owners:
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