Install IBM R&R discs in vmware workstation running Deb4

[billymcq]

Thinkpad Z61p (came pre-installed with xp-pro, default hardware)
Wiped the entire system and is currently running Debian 4.0 (2.6.18-4-686)
VMware Workstation 6.0.3

I have the xp-pro r&r dvd's that I made when I first got my system. I made a new vm for xp-pro and booted from the dvd just fine. Everything ran great until it got the point of rebooting and installing to the C: drive. It keeps looping through this:

To boot to the Rescue and Recovery Environment, press F11...
Loading RAMDISK image...
Starting Windows Preinstallation Environment...
(goes to a grey screen with a cursor for a few seconds before rebooting)

I tried going in to F11 and doing another factory default restore with the same problem. Next I'm going to delete the vm and try re-installing from the dvd's and see if I get the same issue. Any idea on this one? Thanks.