LinuxQuestions.org - USB conflict appears to be crashing SuSE 8.2 install

I recently got my hands on a SuSE 8.2 distro mainly for the purposes of teaching myself Linux for the first time. Here is my system:

Shuttle SN45G
nForce2 Ultra 400 chipset
2800+ (overclocked to 3200+)
2 x 512Mb Crucial PC2700 Memory
256Mb ATI Radeon 9600XT
Sony DVD-R/RW Dual Format
Seagate Barracuda ATA100 160Gb (150Gb) Hard Drive
USB Modem plugged in rear port
Average CPU temp: 50C
Average System temp: 55C
Windows XP Pro SP1 fully up to date
Rock solid stable system

Pre-SuSE 8.2 install partitioned as below:

C - Windows - 20gb NTFS
D - Programs - 40gb NTFS
E - Storage - 80gb NTFS
F - Linux - 10gb FAT32

Post-SuSE 8.2 as below:

C - Windows - 20gb NTFS
D - Programs - 40gb NTFS
E - Storage - 80gb NTFS
F - Linux - 3.26gb FAT32 (SuSE said it resized it)
unknown - 1004Mb (Presumably the Swap File whatever that is)
unknown - 5.52gb (another SuSE bit)

Story so far...

So i get my 3 disc SuSe 8.2 and manual thinking it should be straight forward to install what with all the bragging over this YaST thingimajig. Into the BIOS and set CD-Rom as primary, HDD 0 as secondary as normal. Disc in boot up and up pops the Boot Screen:

Boot from Hard Disk
Installation
Installation - Safe Settings
Installation - APIC Enabled
Manual Installation
Rescue System
Memory Test

So i clicked Manual Installation and it goes through:

Language - English
Keyboard map - English (UK)
Start Installation/Update
Please chose source medium - CD-Rom
Loading data into RAMDISK (45800Kb)

YaST appears, quite a nice user friendly looking interface. Says select language then a box pops up:

YaST2 detected the following device
nVidia Corporation
(Holco Enterprise Co, Ltd/Shuttle Computer)
nForce2 USB Controller

Driver Module to load:
usb-core

i click ok, next box is similar:

YaST2 detected the following device
nVidia Corporation
(Holco Enterprise Co, Ltd/Shuttle Computer)
nForce2 USB Controller

Driver Module to load:
usb-ohci

if i click ok on this box, it disappears and a little "YaST Probing USB devices" box pops up, at which stage the system crashes instantly. The only escape is pressing the reset button on the pc itself.

i repeated the steps to reach the same stage again, this time i clicked cancel on usb-ohci and the same box popped up again. I click ok it crashes again. So i repeat yet again and this time i click cancel on both the usb-ohci boxes and it carries on and installs in full.

So i boot into Linux via "GRUB" and it starts loading. Gets to around 40% on the bar and just crashes the system. So reset button again and this time i go into the "Verbose" mode whatever that is by pressing F2. Loads of stuff scrolls down the screen ending with this:

Running /etc/init.d/boot.local - Done
Starting syslog services - Done
Starting hotplugging services [ ieee1394 net pci usb

when the word "usb" appears the system crashes and again its reset button time.

So i try to install linux again this time opting for the "Installation" mode instead of the "Manual Installation" mode. Again lots of stuff scrolls down the screen and it crashes as soon as these lines have appeared...

>>> SuSE Linux installation program v1.4 (c) 1996-2003 SuSE Linux AG <<<
Starting hardware detection...

then it crashes and once again reset button is the only way out.

Now im a complete linux newbie so i might be talking rubbish but all the problems seen to be arising around USB for some reason. I can't possibly offer any other theories as i have no experience with the OS. I did try unplugging all USB devices (which was only the USB modem anyway) but exactly the same things happened.

So if anyone has any advice that will help me install this distro and make it work then it would be greatly appreciated. Ive included all the information i have regarding the problems.

Please note that installing the distro on another hard drive is not an option.