Problem installing Win XP Pro

[deeznuts]

i have tried installing XP on a machine. it has failed over 3 times and i cannot figure out what is wrong. i have installed XP on this machine before, no problem. but this time, it just won't work, it reports an error about 1/2 way through. it says:

Error:
SXS.DLL: Syntax error is manifest or policy file "D:\I386\asms\1000\MSFT\WINDOWS\GDIPLUS\GDIPLUS.MAN" on line 0.

Error:
Installation Failed. D:\I386\asms. Error message: Manifest Parse Error. Invalid at tope level of document.

Fatal Error:
One of the components that Windows neâds to continue setup could not be installed.

Manifest Parse Error: Invalid at the top level of the document.


does anybody have any idea what this means? this is my setup:

asus cu2sl-c. celeron. 40gb hardrive.

 

[DeschutesCore]

Test your memory with a DOS boot disk and a mem test program. From there, migrate to a DOS burnin app if you can locate one. I have yet to find a good shareware burn-in / diagnostic program. Each case where we got into a setup and it pulled the manifest / component missing message has been one bad CPU and many bad sticks of cheap OEM ram. If reducing the RAM in frequency via BIOS adjustments allow you to install, it's almost a safe bet the ram is flakey.

DC

 

[deeznuts]

go od, so this isn't some esoteric problem huh? i'll try that right now. whats a good mem test proggie that runs in dos though?

 

[gwlam12]

i don tknow of a program....but if u have more than one stick of ram, take one out, to see if that fixes the problem. i tried reinstalling an OS ten times until i realized it was memory problem.

 

[bacillus]

Originally posted by: deeznuts
go od, so this isn't some esoteric problem huh? i'll try that right now. whats a good mem test proggie that runs in dos though?

memtest86

 

[deeznuts]

thanks.

not my memory though. hmmm, cpu seems to run fine, can't figure it out. guess i'ma go with a win2000 which seems to be less picky.