One out of 30 linux boot

[earlytv]

I have a HP DC5000 SFF system.

Ram 3, 256meg sticks.
HDD 20gig with WIN XP PRO, WAS 60gig that died. XP works fine.
Cmos batt died replaced.
No floppy.
DVD rom CD r/w

Out of 30 or so linux I have, many listed on this site, only FEATHER LINUX will boot and run, all the others lock system up. All the others have same fail screen. , or close to it?

Machine check exception
b20000001040080f4
kernal panic not syncing
cpu context corrupt
and sometimes a fail number, many 00 with a 4 at the end?

While working on system I found that because older WIN had a 32gig HDD limit the bios and HDD are different to take care of that. The HDD has extra jumper for over or under 32gig HDD and the bios must read that.
I found some WD Datalife CDs can see main IDE with HDD and some cant saying HDD on different seperate IDE controler. This must be because of BIOS patch for older WINs?
Feather linux is fine but I dont want to be locked out of the whole world?
What can be done?

One of the PUPPY linux, but only 1, also boots? Graf Pup

[earlytv]

I guess that type of fail means the MICRO bad?
Replace P4 478 socket micro with a P4, a little less speed, a little less on board ram and now all works ok? Will test all day. The P4 heat sink fan on this one on way less with cool air not super hot air like last one?

[valan]

Wikipedia has a page that might be of some help to you

Machine Check Exception - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia