machine powers off during FC3 install

[Benton Whitaker]

    All of my FC3 CDs have passed the media check but during 
installation, after choosing packages and calculating dependencies, my 
system will power off at about 75% of the way through the "Preparing to 
install..." completion status window (same spot every time). I have 
never had any problems installing or using FC2. Im using a Dell Inspiron 
8500 laptop with one disk partitioned into an NTFS for winXP, an ext3 
for Fedora, and a swap for the ext3. Note that Im doing a fresh 
install...choosing to format the ext3 and swap.
    Now if I choose a 'minimal install'...the installation succeeds and 
everything works fine...minus not having any of the packages I want. 
'Install everything' fails with a power off during 'Preparing to 
install..." just like choosing my own packages fails. I have what I 
consider a basic understanding of linux, I can recompile the kernel and 
install modules etc, yet I have no point of reference on this problem. 
Usually hours of Google searches answers just about anything. Thanks in 
advance for any insight one can offer.                        -Benton