Okay, before I recompiled a new kernel, I would boot with the redhat kernel 2.4.20-6
and the grub is as follows to boot from this kernel:

title Linux (2.4.20-6)
root (hd0,5)
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.4.20-6 ro root=LABEL=/ hdc=ide-scsi
initrd /boot/initrd-2.4.20-6.img


Okay, everything boots fine with this kernel. So, I go ahead download vanilla kernel and compile it, move it to the /boot folder and then I added the following to grub:

title +Linux+ (2.4.20)
root (hd0,5)
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.4.20 ro root=LABEL=/ hdc=ide-scsi


Well, when I boot this new kernel I get the following panic message:

VFS: Cannot open root device "LABEL=/" or 00:00
Please append a correct "root=" boot option
kernel panic: VFS: Unable to mount root fs on 00:00


why am I getting this message if I enabled the linux filesystem ext in the kernel, this is very odd, I would appreciate some help please. thanks.

zLinuxz

If you just use root=/dev/hdxx it will probably work fine.
root=LABEL=/ probably needs an initrd

what happens when you replace LABEL=/ with the actual device name /dev/hda*

did you also do a "make modules install"?, are you able to see them in /lib/modules/2.4.20/?

The kernel can't get at the modules until it has a root filesystem.

thanks guys, I figured it out. I actually just needed to get right of the "ro root=LABEL=/"
all together, and the kernel booted fine. Thanks for the help!!, appreciate it.,

zLinuxz