REDi

if you go to control panel - users.. there's some radio button to use the classic login.. try that out. I was actually lookin around for the same thing you are. However I just installed XP last night so haven't had a chance to play around with it much.

Did you try to reinstall the tcp/ip stack? Whenever I feck up my nic settings. .i usually just go in, remove the tcp/ip , then add it again and config the ip/dns/gateway etc..

doesn't icq use tcp/ip for file send/recieving? if so then you'll have to enable the ports for udp and tcp.. but maybe i'm jus talkin out my *** here. dunno. with my linux firewall setup .. i can send files but can't receive. .havent' played around with the settings yet.

I just realized that Iwas using a serial # from an older beta version ( think beta1 or something).. maybe that was the problem

ok i'll give that a go. it could be my a3d card acting up. i'm pretty sure my nic is ok cuz it recognizes it when i do network config. however i'll rip out the sound card. memory should be ok. it's set to cas 3 right now, and the ram has been super stable in win2k for months. my drives are all IDE (no raid). however i'll only pop in my ibm drive, and leave my quantum out until after the install (if it works!)

Ok.. i've seen some similar posts.. anyhow my system freezes up completely right where it's 'saving settings' . it always seems to happen with 6mins left in the install process. i'm running this on a athlon500, 192megs of ram, 40gig ibm deskstar (installing to a 3gig partition for winxp). can anyone helpe me out at all?