If it's different files each time I'd suspect it's a problem with buffer under-runs (I'm assuming you are using CD for the transfers?). Go into the BIOS (usually a key press, such as Del, while the computer is booting) and try setting the CD/DVD drive to a PIO mode (higher numbers are faster, so try 3 first) rather than DMA: Windows XP seems much more sensitive to this sort of thing than 98 in my experience, and caused all sorts of installation problems until I tracked it down. Hopefully you have a system manual that will tell you exactly where to find the options, or better go to Dell and demand this information. Cyptojoe: right-click on My Computer, go to the system updates tab and choose the degree of automation you want. For my work there has been a general increase in stability from Windows 3.1 through 95 and 98 to XP.