Hmm.  While it's entirely possible that linux won't work on the machines

(it does happen), the fact that it doesn't work on *any* of them makes

me wonder about your boot-disk (and possibly root-disk) integrity.

Linux does work on most AT-386's it seems, and the above seems a bit too

unlucky (although at least some Compaq machines are known for doing

things their own way: Compaq has this IBM-complex and thinks it can

change the standards to suit itself.  I think it's gotten better). 
The easiest way to prove there is no problem with a boot floppy is to

find a computer it boots on: if you cannot, you should make sure you

downloaded the images in binary mode all the way etc.  If the bootimage

is corrupted (or only partly written or similar: rawrite seems to have

problems with some machines), the normal result is the reboot you

describe.  Don't be fooled by the fact that "Loading..." appears to

work: that is handled by only the first 512 bytes, so even if they are

good, the rest may not be. 
                Linus