"Installing the system" fails every time at 7%

I'm trying to install the  linuxcnc-2.8.4-buster.iso  on my old I3 and the install keeps hanging at 7% when it says "installing the system", both from usb and dvd.
The install goes quite quickly until that point, with no errors- but then just stops at 7% when "installing the system", with no activity from the machine at all. I even left it for several hours but no further progress.
I re-downloaded the iso several times, have burned (and verified) a total of 3 dvd's, and tried 2 different usb sticks, and tried both the command line and graphical interfaces with no change.
It progresses quite quickly through the various menus, no apparent problems, starts installing the system, then stops, always at that same point.
At this stage I have absolutely no idea as to what to do next- I can't think of any way of fault-finding it as it is completely unresponsive, so any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks, Ken.

Possibly a hardware error. Remove and reseat all components. Make sure you are connected to a wired internet connection.

Thanks for your reply Rodw, and yes it is beginning to look like a hardware problem. I downloaded & installed a basic debian buster image, the install went ok, no hanging, but the system had severe problems when I tried to do anything after the install. It booted ok, but was quite unresponsive after booting. When I set it to downloading a 2.8.4-buster.iso, it went great guns for 1.7 out of 2.6Gb- then hung and became completely unresponsive.

I think it is time to put this old I3 out of it's misery and get a newer box for my linuxcnc installation.

Try installing debian bookworm first before you give up. If a Celeron works an i3 should too.