I have tried this on two different machines now, same issue.

I put the CD in the drive, I get the install window come up and ask what language, then I click Install. That window goes away and a progress window indicating Java Installer starts and the progress marker goes to 100%

Then that goes away and.... nothing. No errors, nothing. There doesn't appear to be anything present on the drive... just... nothing.

Any ideas?

Welcome to the Forums!

Problems like you've got can be difficult to diagnose. As a first pass, you can use Win XP's Event Viewer to help with diagnosis.

To open the Event viewer, click on Start > Control Panel > Administrative Tools > Computer Management > Event Viewer > Application or System. Double-click on Error (white X in red circle) listings for the date on which you tried to install EoA to find the one(s) dealing with EoA, and read the Description. This ought to tell you what caused the EoA installation to crater. Also look at the Warning listings (black exclamation point in yellow triangle). Post back with what the appropriate Description says if you don't know what to do.

Also refer to:
-- How To View and Manage Event Logs in Event Viewer in Windows XP
-- Detailed Usage of the Event Viewer /AUXSOURCE Switch Option

I have found the event viewer, but there is nothing in any of the events that has anything to do with EoA.

I see MSI Installer listed a few times, but it simply states that the "event has started"

That's it.

OK, the diagnosis difficulty just went up a notch.

Please post a DxDiag report in this topic, so that we can take a look at your system and make recommendations. See Myst V: System Requirements and Posting Guidelines under POSTING GUIDELINES, To post a DxDiag report for a how-to. Run all of the graphics and sound tests you can before saving the report to a file, and post *all* of the file.

If the manufacturer and exact model number of your PC aren't shown under 'System Information' (System Manufacturer and System Model) at the top of the report, also include that information in your post. Or, if you built your system or it was put together locally for you, include the manufacturer and exact model number of your motherboard.