File copy error during XP Home install

I'm doing a repair install of XPH SP2. Everything goes along fine; I enter the product key during the GUI phase of the install, and then it progresses past there for a couple minutes, then I start getting "Copy File Error". One of the files was catsvr.dl_ and another one was caclqbs.dl_ (or something close to that). And it will allow me to continue without copying the file, but it seems like the very next file errors out also; then I can skip that and again it errors on the next file. It seems to always error out on the .dll files starting with "C". I ran a chkdsk; it didn't help. I ran a drive diagnostic and the HD is OK. Formatting the drive really is not an option; all the apps on the drive have to be ressurected so they'll run correctly (meaning that the owner of the PC doesn't have an Office install CD, or a Quicken install CD, or a QuickBooks install CD, or an AutoCAD install CD). Any ideas?

 

OK- just swapped out the CDROM and the cable and the RAM. Same error. It happens at the "26 Minutes remaining...." point and above the green progess bar on the left it says "Copying files....". This time the error is with copying the file catsrvut.dl_
My question is: why does this only happen on the DLL files that start with "C"? And why is it happening at all?!?!?
H E L P ! ! !

(yes, I've tried f o u r different XP Home discs)