First Timer – Can't get Win Xp Pro to Load – Blue Screens - What to do next??

Question

This is my first build, and I have the following hardware:
Athlon64 939 3000+ Processor
MSI K8N-Neo2 Platinum Motherboard
Corsair TWINX1024-3200C2PT 1GB DDR400 (512X2)
Hitachi 160GB 7k250 SATA Hard Drive
ATI 9600XT AIW Video Card
Plextor 716A 16X Dual Layer CD/DVD
Antec True430 PSU (+12V: 26A; +5V: 36A)
Cooler Master Praetorian Case (Silver)
After putting it together, I observed the CPU temps in the BIOS for a while (my concerns, now gone, are documented in another thread), and never noticed any other problems.  I partitioned the hard drive using Partition Commander, from the CD.
Last night was the first time I tried to load Windows Xp Pro (have used 98SE on my old PCs), and it did not go well.  Although I had loaded the Partition Commander S/W a number of times via the CD ROM drive, the first time I tried to load Win Xp, it wouldn’t boot up from the CD ROM drive.  I had to try it a few times before it started (even though the CD ROM was set to first priority for booting in BIOS).  Once started, when it was in the middle of loading files (not far into the entire process), I started getting errors with wording something like “Couldn’t load file XYZ, hit enter to retry, or cancel...”.  After hitting Enter a few dozen times, it made it through that part of the process, but then later, I started getting blue error screens reading “A problem has been detected and windows has been shut down to prevent damage ...”  I rebooted and the installation resumed, but every time but one (I must have tried it six times) I ended up at a blue error screen before it finished.  At the bottom of these screens, there was always a line that read (but not always the same numbers): 
“*** STOP 0x0000008E (0xC0000005, 0x804EAAB4, 0xEE7A8C80, 0x00000000)”.  One time, there was also, after the first para on the screen the line “DRIVER_IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL”.  Another time, it made it to the final (I think) “Saving Settings” part of the process, showing 5 mins left to go, and just hung.
Can someone help me figure out what these errors mean?  I’m at a loss as to what to do next, and of course really want to get this thing up and running.  I read another similar thread where people suggested the PSU was insufficient (he was using a 300W PSU), but I don’t think that is the issue here.  I’m also sure I have the latest BIOS version (V1.4) for my motherboard, so that shouldn’t be an issue either.
Thanks in advance for your help....Thksnow

Answer 1

This is a completely new install (new h/w and s/w) of Xp Pro w/SP2 incorporated (not an upgrade).  Someone recommended removing one of the two memory sticks, and trying to load Xp afterwards, then reinstalling the 2nd stick after the install completes.  I tried it tonight, after reformatting the partition, and the install went completely thru without a hitch the first time!!!  I can't explain why it worked, but I guess there can be some kind of memory issue when you have two dual channel sticks during an Xp install.  I have now reinstalled the 2nd stick, and so far, so good.  Tomorrow I will run Memtest86 to see if that turns up any errors.  By the way, how do you tell if it's truly operating as "Dual Channel"?  Is there some way to tell?
Tks...Thksnow