ubuntu 8.10 installation error

Hi

I downloaded the Ubuntu 8.10 cd and burned it OK. Checksum is OK. I installed it as a dual boot with Windows XP, and the installation goes to the end (step 7/7) and asks to reboot the machine. However, when Grub runs Ubuntu, it gives an error that I don't understand being a Linux newbie (see details below). At one point, I installed Ubuntu 5.3 (I think) on over the 8.10 to test, and that one runs OK. It boots and all the software there works. So I reformated the ext2 and swap partitions and installed 8.10 again, but it still doesn't work.

When it boots, this is what is written on the monitor:

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Boot from (hd1,2) ext2 ec531aeb-7f42-4c0b-bc8b-a627e18baafe
Starting up ...
Loading, please wait ...
usplash: Setting mode 1152x864 failed
usplash: Using mode 1024x768
Gave up waiting for root device. Common problems:
- Boot args (cat /proc/cmdline)
    - Check rootdelay= (did the system wait long enough?)
    - Check root= (did the system wait for the right device?)
- Missing modules (cat /proc/modules; ls /dev)
ALERT! /dev/disk/by-uuid/ec531aeb-7f42-4c0b-bc8b-a627e18baafe does not exist. Dropping to a shell!

BusyBox v1.10.2 (Ubuntu 1:1.10.2-lubuntu6) built-in shell (ash)
Enter 'help' for a list of built in commands.

(initranfs) _

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Pls help me. What did I do wrong?

The machine is an Intel clone with 2.0 GHz speed, 512 MB Ram and two hard drives - one with windows and linux on the other.