New Build: Freezes while windows loads setup files. :(

[Weioo]

I have tried these CDs/Installs... Windows XP Home (CD itself says its an "upgrade cd," not sure if i can use for fresh install), Windows Vista Business 32-bit, Windows Vista 64-bit. I got a free CD key for Vista Business but downloaded both .ISO files off the net. It is possible that all my CD's are made for upgrading only I guess. If this isn't the problem then I have no idea what is... I did some googling and the only things I could find are possibilities of hardware failure.

Build Specs:
CPU: Intel Core 2 Duo 6850(I think) - 3.0GHz
Mobo: Abit IP35 PRO
RAM: 4x 1GB Patriot
HDD 1: 10,000 RPM 150GB WD Raptor
HDD 2: 7,200 RPM 500GB WD Cavier

Thanks in advance for any help. I've been sitting here pulling hair out for about 3 hours now.

Edit: I just underclocked the CPU by about 900MHz and got into the XP license agreement instantly and for the very first time, I got beyond the "loading windows setup files" with Vista!!! Good news: Making progress... bad news: kinda looking like a CPU problem.

[Weioo]

Just dropped my RAM down to one stick from four and I got Vista installed and everything, first try... I guess some of my RAM is bad. I'll have to find out which ones and RMA them. At least I;ve got 4 sticks and will happily run off 2GB for a while.

[glc]

The problem is you are running 4 sticks - you must slow them down to 667 speed in the bios. This is a chipset limitation.