Interesting problem with Windows XP SP2 licensed for Bare hardware.

Have a brand new ASUS motherboard from newegg.com.

Assembled the whole thing and Ubuntu LiveCD, Knoppix 4.0.2 and Windows XP SP2 all

had odd problems.  Most information came from Unbuntu using the 

debugging boot:

live DEBCONF_DEBUG=1 BOOT_DEBUG=1

Then it seemed that the controller and the DVD drive seemed to get into a staring contest and I couldn't access the compressed CD file system after that.

Windows gave the following helpful error after say 30 minutes or more:

UNMOUNTABLE_BOOT_VOLUME
 

 *** STOP: 0x000000ED (0x86328900, 0xC0000006, 0x00000000, 0x00000000)

Turns out the  SOUND BLASTER|AUDIGY 2 ZS PCI OEM was causing all this.

Removed the card and things are happy.  

I must have missed something in the instructions

for the card. Very frustrating.

Here's the config: