Strange problem: Win98/ME install program locks up, but I can install 2000 just fine...what's going on?

[Spoooon]

Anyone have any ideas? When I try to do a clean install of both Windows 98 and ME, it locks up during the install program. Specifically when it says it's loading the setup program. The progress bar reaches 100% then nothing happens. I can still move the mouse pointer around but the program doesn't continue. When I do the clean install, the first thing I do is Fdisk and delete the active partition, create a new one, and set it active. Then I format the disk. I use a Win98 startup disk, get CDROM support going, and start the setup program. Everything goes fine until the progress meter reaches 100% and stops. This happens with both 98 and ME. Windows 2000 installs with no problems whatsoever.

System:
AMD Athlon 900 (non overclocked)
Abit KT7
128 megs PC133 ram
Creative Labs TNT2 Ultra (non overclocked)
SBLive
RealTek NIC

BIOS settings are the fail safe default ones.

 

[IsOs]

Try to copy Win98 or Win9x subdirectory from your CD into the harddrive and use it to start the installation process.

 

[Bozo]

Pull your NIC card and see if you can install.

Bozo