I use apt-get install kernel-image-2.4.26-1-686 and after I rebooted, I got the lovley message "Kernel Panic: VFS: Unable to Mount root fs on 03:01"
I looked through the start and 1 mager thing is missing, the IDE control is not getting loaded.

So how do If fix this.

this most likely means that the kernel cannot find the initrd file. this is a root fs image that the kernel mounts as a type virtual file system for boot purposes(hence 'type vfs'). you should try getting a rescue disk and booting into your system. If you use lilo you need to edit /etc/lilo.conf and add the line 'initrd=/initrd.img' or wherever the image is located. oh, and make sure the file _exists_.

ok heres what lilo says

image=/vmlinuz
label=Linux
read-only
# restricted
# alias=1

so where does that 'initrd=/initrd.img' go in here

that file is under the root file system (/)

you can put it below the 'image = /vmlinuz' line :

Ok I entered that and it did the same thing as before ??

Now what can I try ?

Any help would be very nice.

bump

i suppose u must have missed out some file system in the configuration while making a manual configuration in the make menu config ...hope fully

I'm sorry, I don't know much about how debian manages things. The only thing I can ask is whether or not you entered the root='/dev/your_root_drive' correctly in the lilo.conf. The root option should point to the disk partition where your '/' directory is installed. Here an example from my lilo.conf

In responce to praveen_2003

I got a precompiled kernel from one of the debian mirror site so I didn't have to configure them.


In responce to usercsr

My root partion is /dev/hda1

Hello there,
I had the exact problem before but fortunately a friend of mine is a debian
developer so he solved it on the fly.
As for as I remember, the problem was with the initrd.And thats what one
of the previous replies suggested.
u need to add the initrd line to ur lilo. However, that line should be pointing
to the initrd location in ur file system. so in order to create that initrd u need
to use the command make-kpkg with the --initrd option which generates the
necessary file which u need to refrence in the lilo.
U can read through the man page of "make-kpkg" and how to use the --initrd
option.

Here is where my initrd is located in /
lrwxrwxrwx 1 root root 27 Jun 6 05:02 initrd.img -> boot/initrd.img-2.6.6-1-686

so as u c what means by initrd=/initrd.img line in the lilo ,is that it is pointing to that
symbolic link which in turn points to the location of the actual initrd (the one u should
get form make-kpkg). And if I understand well u can even replace that initrd=/initrd.img
by initrd=/location_of_generated_initrd. creatin a symbolic link is just a fancy thing I think.

I am completely new to linux and thats all I remembered from that kernel panic
problem I had. I hope it helps. ah, and dont 4get to type "lilo" after editin and
saving lilo.conf

I got it to boot the kernel in the weirdest way (as I see it) I added the old kernel to the lilo.conf file and it booted the new kernel all the way but it didnt load my network card. So am I missing something or is my kernel lacking the support for that card??

if ti failed bringing up interface eth0 this is normal, mine fails it all the time and networks just fine