I am trying to install windows XP home on my laptop, i've formatted the drive using the XP CD and the install goes ok until the last few minutes (the stage when it says deleting temporary files) and then the computer freezes. when I switch it off and back on the setup program restarts from the 39 minutes to go stage..I have tried 2 different XP cd's and got the same results. any ideas what i can try next or is there some way I can fix the installation (I take it the files have been copied onto the hard drive) any help would be appreciated as this is driving me nuts now....
machine specs...
microstar laptop
pentium 4, 2.5
512 mb ram
40 gb hard drive

Make sure your hardware is compatible with XP. Check on the Micro$$oft site.

Use Fail-Safe Defaults or similar for Bios settings and check manufacturers site for any problems or updates.

thanks for the reply, after many attempts i have now installed xp home but when starting windows it asked for the users name as normal and I put a name in but now when you start the laptop it shows the log in screen with the user and guest account but wont accept a password (strange thing is i've never set any passwords) after pressing enter on either account I get the message : The system cannot log you on due to the following error : The specified domain either does not exist or could not be contacted. Please try again or consult your system administrator.

this is now driving me round the bend....is there any way I can get past this screen, I have tried starting in safe mode but still get stuck at this screen..

the laptop is trying to log on to a network, you must have told the setup you were on a network at sum point, when you get the log in screen press ctrl alt del twice, log on as the administrator and see if you can get into it that way

thanks for the reply Nuttapper, I left my wife watching the laptop while the installation was running and she says she 'might' have pressed something....

I've got the OS to load I think the problem is that the laptop is overheating, i left it in the garage overnight and did an install in the garage where it is nice and cold and left an oscillating fan running on the laptop and the install went ok..

this leads me to ask the question does anyone have any tips to keep the lappy cool, it seems to run very hot (in comparison my Dell lappy runs cool doing the same sort of tasks)
cheers
darren