Prob. installing Linux on Compaq Deskpro EPSB Series

I just got a Deskpro EP-SB Series desktop system. 64MB RAM, NVidia 32MBVideocard, Realtek NIC, Celeron 400-66 processor. (I am not worried about 'only' 64mb, this box will serve as firewall-router only, no graphical environment needed whatsoever.)

Installing windows has never been a problem according to previous owner. Memory is tested and ok. CDROM (generic ATAPI) worked in other systems (including linux) w-o problems, HD is checked and ok.

Downloaded the BIOS config utility from HP, setup everything, all seems fine.

trying Gentoo, from minimal install cd, I used that one succesfully on other boxen. Knoppix booted in expert mode does properly mount the cd-drive. The other distros stopped without warning.

I can still boot the windows installation on the HD as well, diskchecks yielded nothing shocking.

Gentoo is most descriptive (ahem) during boot, and it seems to hang itself over a mount problem with the CDrom.

Gentoo loads kernel image, modules, then tries mounting the CD as hda, hda1, then hdb (hdc when set as master on ide2, hdd when slave). That's when it halts, after the cursor moves exactly 2 places to the right (following a ~30sec silent period). Completely dead afterwards. Keyb, tutti. I am not sure but think it is likely the other distros have a similar problem. It should recognize it asdev-hdb (or hdc-hdd when set to ide2) I suppose.

Tried the defaults, changing IRQs for all devices feasible, changed mode from DMA to PIO (0, 4). Nothing seems to make any difference at all. Tried every kernel boot option that may remotely be related to this issue, no dice. (en-disable acpi, apm, dma, detect, you name it)

Has anyone got an idea what may be the problem, or where I should look next ?

Would be a shame if I had to give this nice (and quiet!) machine up for this cause.

Thanks in advance. Kind regards Sh.