USB stop during xp install

[Und3ertak3r]

MLF has a point.. Some hardware with a Pre SP1 XP install "can" have issues..

It may help knowing approx where the installer is up to.. as in what stage is it announcing at that time of the failure.. see for some of the machines I play with.. the install is done before 30mins have passed.. so it sounds like the issue is very early in the install..
you say the USB fails.. does the light go out in the mouse? or is it just that the pointer has vanished.. and you have no response from the keyboard..(like most of the time on install the CTL-ALT-DEL is about all the kbd is good for..

Your problem could be as one of the device drivers is starting.. this could cause your issue: ie a device driver..

My thought is if it is so early in the install.. could it be a fault in the HDD.. the format may appear to go well.. but you may still have a funny sector.. causing a lock-up during the decompression/write phase..
It is a clean install your doing..?
Try deleting the partitions then format on your next attempt.. and be sure to format under NTFS.. unless you have a specific reason to install under FAT32

more a guess than anything..