Isn't this a clue?
If you can install and run the Debian OS on VMWare and have success, but it fails on the real hardware, then isn't this a clue?
How does your hardware differ from what VMWare assumes? Could you have a jumper issue with your HD, or some obscure BIOS setting that Debian isn't liking?
Hope this sparks something useful. Good luck!
Cheers,
Scott.