XP home or Pro?
Think home doesn't support dual processors

PRO

What hardware have you got connected during the install? Does the install just stop at the boot screen with the moving bar? Did you format the drive prior to the installation?

Try switching the Ram for some branded stuff, if only for the install process...

Yes, point taken, just took that for granted!

Agree with that, suggested earlier that he test memory but he doesn't seem to have tested it. Mind you, I bought 2 sticks of Corsair memory recently, found 1 to be faulty - don't take any thing for granted. TEST IT, can save a LOT of hassle.

Use proper anti-static precautions when handling components.

Do that all the time, you wouldn't believe how often I have to bite my tongue:D
Recent Example:
"My computer is knackered, keeps rebooting"
"When was the last time you ran Windows Update?"
"Errrrr, windows update??"
"Welcome to wormsville, what firewall are you running?"
"Errr"
:Me bites tongue and takes a deep breath: :rolleyes:

Darant, looks like bad hardware somewhere. As you are still posting I take it you have a second, working PC. Is the hardware compatible with the motherboard in the working PC? Can you swap some of the hardware into the working one to see which bits cause a problem?

Darant, if you need to, pm me and I will give you my home number and go through the setup with you for pro, see if I can't work out what is causing the issue you are having. (I have plenty of experience diagnosing XP install failures lol, which is why I run 2kpro and linux on my machines lol)

unfortunatly no. Im running my second pc which is a laptop. I'm wondering if the way the ide cables are wrong conpaired to the jumpers. Master, Slave etc

Get it to a state where you can try some diagnostics, trying to diagnose hardware faults by installing Windows is NOT the way to go. You are just poking about in the dark, possibly going to introduce MORE faults.

you've lost me. Im building a new pc. not trying to diognose anything. What do you mean by "it"?

Right, now for a simple question which will no doubt have a simple answer.

on a drive (CD, HDD) there are settings - Slave, Master. Do these corispond at all to the primary or slave on the mother board?

or what way should I have them....

Master Hard drive will be the drive first on the cable and will be the drive with the operating system installed on it normally.
Slave will be any other drive on the same cable.
IDE1 and 2 on mobo...
Personally I always hook the master with the O/S on it to IDE1

I think he means your hardware setup.....