i installed linux on 'hdb1' and it's DOS formatted(FAT32).i didn't add or delete any other parts,i simply set the root there.after starting from a boot disk it shows me the following:
kernel panic:attempted to kill the idle task!
in swapper task not syncing
what does that mean?

i'd really appreciate your help.
thanks a lot

I have never seen or heard this error, but did you setup a swap space? You might want to make it so your install of Linux is on its own EXT2 partition.

swap space-yes,i thought about that,too.but under win ME i can see that it has created 2 'files'-1 for the root(the filesystem)and 2 for the swap.i didn't add any other parts.i just set the root on hdb1 and that's all.while installing it asked me about the size of the root and the swap.
can't i just set both of them on the same part(it's FAT32)?
do i have to create another FAT part for the swap?what do you think?should i create linux native and swap instead of having so much troubles?

thanks to trickykid and to all of you

I would recommend installing on a linux native, I have never installed on a Fat32 partition so I have no real expertise in getting it to work on that.

thanks a lot trickykid,you helped me a lot.

by the way,do i have to add /home,/tmp and /usr partitions as well.and something more,if i have more than 128M of RAM
do i need a swap partition(i read that i didn't but you never know).

thanks