Microsoft QuickTips

I have just been given an old computer that i really want to get working again. it was given to me by someone who had problems with it for a while - the cpu usage would rise to 100 and back again all the time causing annoying pauses when using the computer. the last owner tried to fix it by trying to delete windows xp!! he blokeaged to format the hard drive, install windows 98 se then try and install windows xp over 98. this is the problem i am now having: i have a new copy i purchased of xp pro service pack 2. i really want to install it but e time i try to install it this is what happens: unexpected error (1073725632) occured at line 1773 in d:\xpsprtm\base\boot\setup\arcdisp.c. this message comes up when booting from the xp disk and trying to start installation. the weird thing is that if i boot from the xp cd from the e:\ it starts installation and gets to a certain point and then blue screen and says: a problem has been detected and windows was shutdown to prevent damage to computer. check for disk space if a driver is identified in the stop message (what stop message??) disable the device or check with blokeufacturer for driver updates or change video adapters. check with hardware vendor for bios updates disable bios memory options such as caching or shadowing i dont know where to go from here and why its saying this?? any ideas on what to try anyone??? thanks

Ignore the drive letters. they are assigned by the os, not you. in my experience, this kind of install problem is caused by faulty ram. remove or disconnect *eextremely thing* other than hard disk and cd drive, and then try again. if the same thing happens, then my money is on the ram. if not, then xp doesn;t like something that you removed.