Sounds like a hardware problem to me. You might try a different distro disk (you didn't specify whether this was a CDROM, a DVD, a live CD, or what, and you didn't specify the version of mandriva...2007?)
If using a different disk doesn't solve your problem I would be taking a look at (in order) the drive itself (make sure the jumpers are set correctly...this certainly could cause your exact symptoms...), the memory (get and run memcheck), the power supply (make sure all voltages are within tolerance and there is adequate current available), then the motherboard (voltage regulator problem).
On the other hand, if the box was in warranty and I established that the problem was not due to a bad CD/DVD/whatever it is you have, I'd give it back to compaq and say "fix it!".
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