XP setup wont fully install, it keeps starting from scratch.

After partitioning, full format (NTFS) and the files/folders transfer it requests the first restart. It then doesn't continue where it left off it starts from the beginning again and just runs round the first loop.
This is a clean install on a new 80Gb Western Digital HDD, partitioned 50/50.
System has 1.2G Athlon XP CPU, 256Mb RAM, Amibios on a Matsonic motherboard (computer bought 2002 and has been running ME no problem on a different HDD thats goin down). Haven't checked or updated the BIOS
Been trying things for days, any help appreciated!!

 

I think step #1 at this point would be a BIOS update.

You speak of partitioning the drive. How big is the OS partition?

Side note - you can run with 256Mb of RAM but it won't be real pretty. 512Mb is about minimum and with a full Gb, you will hum along nicely with that processor.

 

OS partition?

When asked if i wanted to partition I just split the drive in two and formatted partition 1 only (NTFS), this is where I tried to install the OS - should it be somewhere else or am I right so far?

 

Just want to be sure, you are removening the CD befor you reboot ?

 

Not removing CD before reboot

I thought the xp setup rebooted a few times during install but needed the cd to continue loading. I haven't managed to get to the windows screen yet asking for language, serial etc.

 

When it gets to the reboot, don't press anykey. That will start the whole thing over. The first increment is to load files from the CD to your HD and the second to install using those files.