install fails during formatting

["Johnston, Steve" <Stephen Johnston PSS Boeing com>]

I've tried at least 20 times now to get RED HAT 5.2 installed on a DELL PC. (Yes, I am an idiot).  

These install attempts invariably hang during formatting after displaying "Running -- Making ext2 filesystem on dev/hda5"(or on dev/hdc2, or whatever partition I am trying to format)).  At that point the only way out is with the power switch.

It happens during custom installs with various partitioning schemes.  It happens with "workstation" install exercises.  It happens with either of two hard drives installed, or with both of them installed.  

Note: The boot disk successfully boots the system.  The CD-ROM is accessible, and is successfully  scanned for packages during the pre-lockup stage of the install.  The partition table is readable by fdisk and by disk druid.  (In fact, I can clear the partition table via fdisk, and then write the changes. Then, after a typical failed workstation install attempt, when I look at the partition table again, I see that the workstation install process made 4 entries in the partition table (a 17 meg boot partition, a swap partition, a large linux ext partition, and a native linux partition).  I can if I wish, format and install DOS with no problems on either of the hard drives.  

I've also tried (twice) to get some promised email support from RedHat (RedHatTicket 69252).  I bought the shrink-wrapped "official" version specifically to get some support. No luck there, either. (They must be swamped supporting other failed installs).   

Help! Any suggestions before I toss either RED HAT or the PC?  

Hardware: 
I have now reduced the DELL XM950 (a P-90) to a minimal hardware configuration. 

RAM:48 Meg 
VIDE0: S3 Chipset of some sort;

Hard Drive 0: Primary IDE -- 535 Meg Western Digital Caviar 2540
(disconnected at the moment)Hard Drive 1: Secondary IDE -- 1.032 Gig Quantum Fireball 1080A
                     
CD-ROM ( On Primary IDE)  


Thanks!  Steve