kernel panic error. Help!
 

i am just learning about computers and know nothing at all except how to turn it on. i just booted up linux and recieved message:
[ 0800654] Kernel Panic - not syncing: VFS: Unable to mount root fs on unknown - block (8,1)

in order for us to help you need to supply MORE info
PLEASE READ this sticky post
"Please READ this before posting! "
http://www.linuxquestions.org/questi...osting-356388/

what???
 

i am following the general way of things for posting so that first link was an unessesary waste of time. second, i do not understand programming, so the second link made no sense at all. third, i cannot start my linux partition due to the fact that my computer is trying to read a hard drive thats not there. could you be a little more helpful?

ps. i am also new to forum protocol, so if theres something genuinely wrong with my posting here, please let me know.

we NEED to know WHAT distro you are using?
Ubuntu?,Debain?,CentOS,RHEL ????
AND
what version of that distro it is

if RedHat is it 4?, 4.3 ? or 5,5.15.2,5.4. ???
also what is the hardware

we are NOT mind readers
- my Chrystal Ball it broke -

Hi,

Welcome to LQ!

Apparently you did not do the install correctly.

I suggest that you look at 'How to Ask Questions the Smart Way' so in the future your queries provide information that will aid us in diagnosis of the problem.

Just a few links to aid you to gaining some understanding;

Linux Documentation Project
Rute Tutorial & Exposition
Linux Command Guide
Utimate Linux Newbie Guide
LinuxSelfHelp
Getting Started with Linux
Advanced Bash-Scripting Guide
Linux Home Networking

:hattip:
The above links and others can be found at 'Slackware-Links'. More than just Slackware® links!

oh
 

sorry about that. i am using ubuntu. it was installed on my laptop from a free installer from wubi. followed all the directions for install.