I don't have problems doing ANYTHING with my computer EXCEPT for installing games!!!!!!! I know it sounds silly, but listen to me.
I just returned a hi-val cd rom and picked up a 52x Sony drive. I CANNOT install any games as my system will HARD LOCK prior to completion! Sounds silly huh? Why do I think it is my hard disk? I installed all of my programs on my OTHER hard disk no problem!!! So my thoery is that my new cd rom drive is literally too fast for me dying drive? both of my hard drives are the same maker (WD) and the "dying" one is 11gb and the good one that I installed the games on successfully is 5gb. But there's a catch: if the 11gb is dying, then why don't I have any other problems? my system files/swap file are on this disk. I don't know. Thought about getting new ide cables or swapping them around. I don't know. anyone know of any good h/d diagnostic programs?