Warty failed to install on seconf machine with WinXP partition - newbie

[Lindsay]

Time to get the feather out.  We have two computers.
I have been trying to install Ubuntu on the second PC which has a 10gb
WinXP partition (c:/), a further 10gb FAT32 partition, a 512MB Linux
swap partition and a 20gb Linux partition (FAT32) - originally ext3 but
Ubuntu wouldn't use that for me in any way.

I get part way through installation and get a series of errors messages
(This is after five patient attempts at doing this and numerous retries
when that option arises.)

the errors are as follows:
1) |Install the base system|
     Base system installation error
   The bootstrap program exited with an error (Return value 1)
   Check /var/log/messages or see virtual console 3 for details

2)  |Failed to install the base system|
    The base system installation into /target failed
    Check /var/log/messages or see virtual console 3 for details

3)  |Installation step failed| 
    An installation step failed .  You can try to run the failing item
    again from the menu, or skip it and choose something else. The
    failing step is: Install the base system.

4) Repeats of 1 & 2  &
    |Install the base system|
    Installation step failed
    An installation step failed.  You can try to run the failing item
    again from the menu, or skip it and choose something else.
    The failing step is: Install the GRUB boot loader in a hard drive.

5)  1 & 2 again &
    |Install the base system|
    Installation step failed
    An installation step failed.  You can try to run the failing item
    again from the menu, or skip it and choose something else.
    The failing step is:Install the LILO boot loader on a hard drive.

6)  1 & 2 again &
     |Install the base system|
    Installation step failed
    An installation step failed.  You can try to run the failing item
    again from the menu, or skip it and choose something else.
    The failing step is:continue without boot loader.

Needless to say, nothing works - no Win XP, not dual boot load -
nothing.  I have tried various CD's and both CD Rom drives. Same
results   
Who has some bright Idea's for a user of three weeks?

Help would be appreciated

Linz