Get errors installing Stable and Testing

[bidi]

I just recently bought a new laptop and I'm trying to get Debian installed on it but keep getting errors! I'm using the netinstall CD images and I'm installing on a Compaq CQ50.

When I try installing Stable, I am able to get into the install program, however the CD drive is not recognized and that's pretty much where my ventures end there. I get through the language selection and stop!

With Testing Beta2, I'm actually not even able to get that far. The kernel boots, I get a message saying so, however it locks up after that and displays a "^@" on the screen.

Funny thing is that I was able to install Slackware 12.1 (kernel 2.6.24.5) with no problems. I haven't tried the nightly snapshots of debian-installer, hoping someone can help me out with this first.

Thanks

[bidi]

I've got some more info! I didn't realize "quiet" boot was on before... here's what I get (this is in Testing Beta2):

scsi 0:0:0:0: Direct-Access Generic- Multi-Card 1.00 PQ 0 ANSI: 0 CCS
Driver 'sd' needs updating - please use bus_type methods
sd 0:0:0:0: [sda] Attached SCSI removable disk
ata1.00: qc timeout (cmd 0xec)
ata1.00: failed to IDENTIFY (I/O error, err_mask=0x5)
ata1: failed to recover some devices, retrying in 5 secs

That last part keeps repeating itself!

The funny this is that it doesn't seem to be recognizing the drive itself ("removable disk" gave it away).

Anyone have any ideas?