BleepingComputer.com: URGENT HELP NEEDED please

apevia x-cruiser with 500w psu which im using
CPU: E5200
2gb gingle ram
Optical Drive: Samsung 20x DVD-RW SATA
MSI G31M3-F
100gb wd ide
my specs
finally got comp running etc now when i went to install vista it said it couldnt find my hdd or some drivers. than i go to install xp and it formats the drive, copys everything than restarts onto the disc again. i think this is because i have the cd drive booted first but this is because everytime i restart it says error press alt crtl delete to restart
ive put in an ubuntu but it doesnt even take any notice of it :S anyone wana help tell me how i can get linux or finally get damn xp working :| was so excited but its taken 7 damn hrs still nothing and ive formatted the drive about 10 times now

ok /topic lol i ust partitioned the drive and xp started to install

I'd run a manufacturer's diagnostic on the hard drive, just to eliminate worry .

Hard Drive Installation and Diagnostic Tools - http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/forums/topic28744.html

Louis