windows fresh from install will not boot

[skeeder]

okay, I'm installing Windows XP pro SP2 brand new from newegg on this pc
Asus a7n8x-x
amd 2500barton
512corsair
40gb maxtor 7200rpm 8mb cache ATA.

thats the basics...I pop in the disc, format, then, I go to restart and I get, this. ERROR LOADING OPERATING SYSTEM.

I was like wtf? so I tried to reformat, by installer, it worked, and I got the same error...
so I was like okay, I toss it in my PC and it reads the drive fine, I was going to reformat it there, but according to my PC something was using the drive...(I was like WTH is going on?)
no its late, and I have the same error after 5 attempts of a Windows install. any ideas what is wrong?

 

[cak]

could be something wrong with the Hdd. I have had errors with windows AFTER windows was installed only to find out the hard drive was bad. can you try another hard drive?

 

[Phaedrus]

This seems like a master boot record problem.
Boot to the cd and choose repair this installation.
From the recovery console type "fixmbr."
Fixmbr repairs the existing Master boot record.
remove the cd and type "exit"
If that doesnt work try "fixboot" which will write a new boot record.