This is my third time reformatting and I haven't had a problem installing drivers, but for some reason this is an issue.
http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/prodinfoCategory?lc=en&cc=us&dlc=en&product=443756&lang=en
That is what I have and it shows two different mobos(odd that I just now noticed this) and the PTGD1 isn't even on ASUS's site. I've downloaded the drivers off hp.com but I got an error mid-install saying it was unable to update.

Support Information:
Device Type: BIOS / Motherboard
Manufacturer: ASUS
Model: A7N8X-LA or PTGD1-LA
Interface: Other
Operating System: Windows XP Professional
Age of Device: < 2 years old
FCCID:

Find it on DriverGuide (http://members.driverguide.com/index.php?action=srch&sm=b&aax=&qa6=122&qa5=1&qa7=1500&dp=2&qm0=A7N8X-LA+or+PTGD1-LA&jmd=and&fzz=d) | Find it with Google (http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&q=ASUS+BIOS+%2F+Motherboard++A7N8X-LA+or+PTGD1-LA+Windows+XP+Professional+) | Research manufacturer ASUS (http://members.driverguide.com/index.php?action=getinfo&companyid=122)

HP buying custom motherboards from Asus is a common practice with pc makers. Nothing new. You won't get any support from Asus... it's part of their licensing agreement with HP. HP installs their own custom bios in this machine thereby it becomes a custom HP motherboard. What is the issue? "Problem installing drivers" needs some details included.

I download the audio drivers off HP's site, http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/softwareList?os=228&lc=en&cc=us&dlc=en&product=443756&lang=en

I attempt to install it and during the process it says Please wait... Update in progress... After a few seconds an error pops up saying "Update failed to install successfully..."

I see no reason why HP would post non-working drivers. That's not their normal way to do business. Perhaps you have some other program running that's causing the problem or a hardware conflict. Have you tried installing it from safe mode? Did you uninstall any previous audio drivers before installing this driver? Does the device have free resources, ie: irq and i/o address to use?

I can't try installing it in safe mode right now, I'm in the middle of installing World of Warcraft(sigh...)

Previously uninstalled drivers shouldn't be a problem since I just reformated this hard drive. It's a 20gb that used to have Windows 98 on it(The 250gb that came with the computer broke recently).

Can you give me some examples of what programs could cause a conflict? Only things I have installed since XP were video drivers, AIM and Firefox.

click start, select run, type msconfig into the box, then click ok, click the Startup tab, you will see everything that's currently running. Untick any box you don't want to start when Windows starts. Then click APPLY to register then click restart.

Alll there is is Steam, Aim, MSN messenger, and Dxdllreg(directx). None of those could be the culprit

EDIT: The only conclusion I can come to right now is maybe there is another driver I need to have installed before the audio driver. I have no idea at this point

Second edit: Just tried doing it in safe mode, didn't work. Also tried with no applications opened, went through task manager and ended all the things I was able to, still nothing. Problem may be that I am trying it with the A7N8X, but another problem is that I can't find drivers for PTGD1

try installing this small app and run it...

To find make and model of pc hardware, EVEREST Home Edition is a free system diagnostics, system information program that will id most hardware onboard a mb. as well as the actual motherboard.

http://www.softpedia.com/get/System/System-Info/Everest-Home-Edition.shtml

Alternate Everest download link: (offers 2 sites to dl program from)
http://www.softpedia.com/progDownload/EVEREST-Home-Edition-Download-16369.html

Run the program and then:

Click on Computer
Click on Summary
Right hand window (hardware) if the text is blue this is a link to the web site for that particular hardware.

If you need additional help, please post a SUMMARY report from Everest.

Hmm...My friend has been helping me out and I think my problem is I don't have any of the service packs, I am currently working to correct this and if it is the case then I feel stupid

no need to feel that way, sometimes the obvious is overlooked. Yea, you need SP 2 installed to get proper operating in XP. Just use the Windows Update in your menu.