ubuntu 7.04 install (alternate CD) on HP XE744

[NoOp]

I was given an old HP XE744 today and decided to load Feisty on it.
Prior to doing that I loaded a knoppix 5.1 CD (2.16.19 Kernel) - all
worked like a champ; got network access (Linksys LNE100TX), CD works,
etc., etc.

HP XE744
733Mhz/256Mb/20Gb
LinkSys EtherFast 10/100 LNE 100TX

Try to install 7.04 from the Alternate CD and I get multiple errors on
startup. (This is the same 8X CD that I use to install all my systems.)

sdb: assuming drive cache: write through
ata2.00: cmd a0/ etc
ata2:port failed to respond (30 secs, status 0xdo)
ata2.00: exception Emask etc
etc., etc.

Go ahead and let the install continue to try and it ends up with No
common CD-ROM detected. Not only doesn't 7.04 recognize the CD-ROM at
this point, it doesn't recognize the NIC.

So I try a 48X CD 7.04 that is also reliable, same errors.

Next I try an Edgy CD - works just fine. CD check works, install works,
etc., etc. Now before anyone sends me off to check md5sums, or 'are you
sure the CD-ROM's are ok' etc., let me assure you that the CD's are just
fine. I've installed over 20 systems using the CD's and as a check I
used the Feisty Alternate 8X CD after this to install on another slower
system with older hardware.

So what gives? Anyone else experiencing similar problems w/7.04
Alternate CD's on a HP XE744 or similar?