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#21
If it pauses in Windows XP, Vista, 7, and in Linux, it is hardware. There is no way around it.
It may be your hard drive, hard drive controller, memory, or CPU. It works in safe mode because safe mode does not load all drivers for these devices. Run HD Diagnostic as that is the most likely failing component to be behaving in the manner you have described. Use that link to find the manufacturer and manufacturer diagnostic for the drive.