So it occurs on every installsheild installer even if it is something downloaded and not form a cd?
now when u say u reinstalled did u do a repair or did u install windows to antoher directory on the same hard drive? or did u just try to reinstall over it?
oh yea and maybe try a system restore.
you should get a verison of xp without the activation. im glad I did.
although I am now an msdn subscriber so now i have legal copies of every windows version for free legally