Hope it helps! Keep in mind as well, that just because it was purchased in 2003 doesn't mean it was manufactured then. There are 'Uncle Kim Specials' at the local CompUSA that are 'dated' 2004, but if you look at the actual drive itself, the date can vary from 1999 to 2003. Another thing that relates to that is just what mode the IDE controller is set for. Anything above mode4 is the 'Ultra' data speeds, and there isn't a CDDVD drive out there that can provide that kind of throughput. If the buffer inside the drive itself isn't big enough, or not the best (which you are better off presuming, unless it one of the big name, big $$$ drives), you will get dropped data. A possible workaround for the drive itself is to go into the BIOS and set the mode to mode 4 on whatever IDE controller it is on. That -may- slow things down enough to allow a stable install. If nothing else, it doesn't cost a thing except the 30 seconds to change the setting.