I have searched and searched but cannot find what appears to be a suitable answer to my dilemma.

I have this old computer and decided to put Vector Linux on it. My first problem was that I could not get any CD's to boot from it. So I pulled the hard drive out and put it in another machine and used that to install Linux. After that I put the hard drive back into the first machine and went to boot up. I made it to the LILO screen just fine. However, after that I was unable to get Linux to boot up. All I can get is this error message:

VFS: Cannot open root device "301" or 03:01
Please append a correct "root=" boot option
Kernel panic: VFS: Unable to mount root fs on 03:01

After searching around a bit, it seems to me that there is an issue with the LILO config file. I managed to put my hard drive back into another machine and boot up with a Knoppix LiveEval CD and here is what I came up with for my lilo.config:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

#LILO configuration file
#generated by 'liloconfig'
#
#Start LILO global section
boot = /dev/hda
default = linux
prompt
timeout = 1200
#Override dangerous defaults that rewrite the partition table:
change-rules
reset
bitmap = /boot/bitmap/boot.bmp
# VESA framebuffer console @ 640x480x256
vga = 769
# Normal VGA console
# vga = normal
#VESA framebuffer console @ 1024x768x64k
# vga=791
#VESA framebuffer console @ 1024x768x32k
# vga=790
#VESA framebuffer console @ 1024x768x256
# vga=773
#VESA framebuffer console @ 800x600x64k
# vga=788
#VESA framebuffer console @ 800x600x32k
# vga=787
#VESA framebuffer console @ 800x600x256
# vga=771
#VESA framebuffer console @ 640x480x64k
# vga=785
#VESA framebuffer console @ 640x480x32k
# vga=784
#VESA framebuffer console @ 640x480x256
# vga=769

# end LILO global section
# Partition 1: Linux GUI mode
image = /boot/vmlinuz
root = /dev/hda1
label = linux
append = " "
read-only

# Partition 2: Linux TUI mode
image = /boot/vmlinuz
root = /dev/hda1
label = linux-tui
append = "2 "
read-only

# Partition 3: Linux GUI mode
image = /boot/vmlinuz
root = /dev/hda1
label = linux-gui
append = "5 "
read-only

# Partition 4: Linux
image = /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.11.7
root = /dev/hda1
label = 2.6.11.7
append = " "
read-only
# Partition 5: Linux
image = /boot/vmlinuz-acpi-2.4.29
root = /dev/hda1
label = acpi-2.4.29
append = " "
read-only
# Partition 6: Linux
image = /boot/vmlinuz-adaptec-2.4.29
root = /dev/hda1
label = adaptex-2.4.29
append = " "
read-only
# Partition 7: Linux
image = /boot/vmlinuz-sata-2.4.29
root = /dev/hda1
label = sata-2.4.29
append = " "
read-only
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

During a few searches I found something that suggested that I change the first:

boot = /dev/hda

to this:

boot = /dev/hda1

I went to try and do that while under Knoppix live-eval but wasn't allowed to.

I think I have given all relevant information. If I need to give more let me know.

thanx

i had similar problems. This helped me solve it. actually before looking at lilo/grub see if you have compiled the kernel with proper options.

Okay, I've have read that post about three times now. My new problem is this:

Where do I start?

I'm not really sure what my first move should be.

thanx

if your two machines (motherboards/chipsets/HDD etc) are not exactly same then you are bound to get errors. i beieve thats because the mobo does not match.the kernel was installed accordingly. so when you changed the machine the driver required for that machine were not present.
two solutions
one - try and install it on the required machine (with the requied h/w in place)
two - compile the kernel on the present installation with proper options