But a install of it is all but impossible to acomplish.
I've used Linux for 5 or 6 years: for the last year or so it has been my only OS.

In my experience there are 3 main reasons for Linux installs not to work:

1. Flakey or non-supported hardware. Run a memory test on your memory, send us a list of your hardware.

2. Incorrectly cabled and jumpered drives. Don't use "cable select", the outer connectors of IDE cables are for the master and mobo, the inner one is for the slave. Slave and master must be jumpered appropriately and for modern drives there are even more permutations -- it's always best to check with the manufacturer's website.

3. Set the bios to "bios defaults". In particular, set the bios to "non plug and play OS".

If all else fails, take your box to an install fest or a local LUG meeting. Above all, remember that all communities are likely to respond better to calls for help than to "your <whatever> is a pile of shite because......." rants.