Friggin' XP Installations...!

try taking the jumper and setting it to master if that doesnt work try removing the jumper altogether and try that.

go into bios and reset to factory optimum settings
and I don't know what utility you are using to reformat drive
seagate has a free dos bootable utility.
make drive master put at end of 1st ide cable.
http://www.seagate.com/support/disc/drivers/discwiz.html
you may be experiencing a hardware failure.
remove any extra memory sticks if any.
make sure the cd or dvd rom is on 2nd ide and set to master also if you can.
I had older pc loaded with W2K pro added xp home and had format and unfinished install like yours a memory stick went
poof tried to put W2K back on it still messed up till I remove bad memory

all i have in the pc is what it came with as standard. i used the boot disk they gave me to set it to factory standard and then tried installation of xp professional. it still does the same thing. i have an extra hard dive that is just lying around (which i know works since i sometimes use it as extra storage space by connecting it via usb) on which i tried the installation too by using that as he master and only drive in the pc. it does everything but just wont go past the loading bar onto the GUI install screen.

after reading over your posts ,(sometimes it helps me see things diff)
I cought the fact this is a tiny pc
boy'o'boy it is a proprietary setup for the bios and also has a hidden partition on hard drive that will not allow you to use machine once this partition is gone.
the bios they use looks for the hidden partition
even if you now install there recovery disc it also will look for same
best bet open machine find out if you can ID the bios chip
and the MB and flash new bios or buy a new one.
One last thing, turn raid off if you have the option
Tiny has fled the country and left lots of folks holding there^^^^^.
About 5 years ago I bought 20 Dell pc's 450 and 500 mhz
thought I was getting a deal.
dell is terriable same with HP (compaq) Gateway(some gateways can be fixed by removing there bios)
as an investment in my own machine I would not buy any labeled pc again
Edit::check to see if drive is sata you need to load the drivers for this F6 in windows install

sounds good but i cant say i know where to start! what does the bios chip look like? and how would i go about flashing it??! sorry if its a lame question but id be lying if i said i completely understood!

bios chip should be close to the little battery on MB
once you id the motherboard and the bios chip
you can get a bootable flash utility from them
i will keep a look out for other fixs for this I can see I may have a client walk in the door with one of those and i'll be at an end.
someone else on another forum tossed his out the window.
please be patient there's going to be lots around someone will fix the issue.
if you can open the bugger up and post the info from the MB
here.
flashing bios is not for everyone.you can end up with anchor
another point if all the hardware inside can be removed
cpu ,memory, video ,maybe better to get a MB that supports them. can you post image of MB

sorry for the late reply! had some work from uni to do. i can tell you the model of the motherboard if thats what you meant by ID my MB!