XP Setup reboots automatically at installing devices

After 7 months I saved enough money to get a new computer. I purchased Win XP Pro and am installing it on my new computer.

It goes through the entire process, until I get to "installing devices ". When the program says I have approximately 33 minutes left, I get a quick black screen. Then the screen comes back. Then I get another quick black screen. Again it returns. The third time it black screens the computer reboots itself and I cannot do anything but allow setup to resume. I can't resume setup in Safe Mode. I can't STOP the current setup to start over. I simply have to sit and watch my computer resume setup, only to reboot once it's got 33 minutes left and is installing devices.

This is a brand new machine and a brand new XP Pro disk. I'd reformat the hard drive and start over if I could, but I can't get out of the setup mode.

Any ideas ?

Thanks

Elsie

 

Update ............

I changed the boot sequence so that I could stop the setup process, by booting off the CD Rom (used to check floppy first).

I was able to complete the setup of Win XP Pro. Now I have a new problem. If I boot up in normal mode, it reboots itself after less than a minute. I can only boot up in Safe Mode (I chose Safe Mode with Networking so I can research this problem from the affected computer).

What could be conflicting that causes my system to reboot itself within a minute of loading up in Normal Mode ?

Thanks

Elsie

 

Also you could try start~run~eventvwr.msc and check the event logs for details. Very possible the exact cause is listed there.

 

Thanks alot Newt ! Your suggestions were right on. It was my sysaudio.sys file that was conflicting. Was finally able to get the right driver installed and now I'm flying on my new machine. I've been using 2nd hand machines since my other one kicked last January and it's so good to have my OWN back.

So now things are moving along well.

Elsie