FC3 halts at "Installing packages"
 

I started out with an old dualboot box containing RH7.3 + win98 (as i got a new monitor and could revive the box) .

Added FC3 , CD-boot , gfx installation
Tested all cd's, all pass.
Went through all initial setup with no problems, used "delete old linux partitions", used automatic partitioning and default set packages.

Then the screen "Installing Packages" appears, CDrom spins for aprox 1 minute, no progressbar appears (remains gray and no text is displayed beneath it) and after this nothing happens whatsoever, not even an error message, just nothing . I have even tried to restart the entire installation process a few times , all with the same result.

Please help :)

Just a guess; Bad CD? Incompatible hardware?
At the boot screen you can disable several parameters such as noacpi. Not knowing your hw, read through all the install screens and try different options.

eventhough all cds test passed, there still may be defected optical media. I'd recommend to reburn your install CD with LOW speed (x8 Max).

failed again
 

downloaded the FC4 disk set and burned them, still same failure. Beginning to think that installation fails to successfully partition the disks because of the newest HD that only windoz is permitted to use (contains no linux partitions so should not be involved in istallation, but somehow it seems to mess it up anyhow).

ended up with a minimal SLAX live-cd which works fine except the lack of norwegian language and keyboard layout. I have to figure out how to remake the iso with apropriate modules.

"because of the newest HD that only windoz is permitted to use (contains no linux partitions so should not be involved in istallation, but somehow it seems to mess it up anyhow).

That shouldn't be the problem, but... if you think it is, then setup the partitions manually. It's extremly easy with the FC install. Linux will do more, correct/repair/partition with harddrives than Windows does. I use it to correct HD/partitions where Windows cannot.

Did you try what I suggested?

Anyway, Slax/Slackware is a great system. Good luck.