install problems "kernel panic"
 

hi i am using a p4 2.6 gHz, 845GV motherboard, 256 mb RAM, 128MB ATI 9200. i tried installing mandrake, mandriva and fedora core 3 on my box. with all the distros i got the same problem. each time during the install the setup starts debugging or something and i get a "kernel panic" message and something like "init not syncing" with calltrace and some gibberish.
the problem changes when i disable the usb support but i still get the call trace and gibberish
any idea whats going on and how to get rid of the error.

You wouldn't be using a RAID hard drive would you?
I have seen problems with raid drives doing this.

same problem with raid and non-raid
 

the strange thing that happens is:
i get the same problem with both raid and non raid drives with the box specified (P4,2.6 gHz, 256 mb RAM, intel 845 GV motherboard, ATI 9200 128mb graphics card)
but if i use the non raid drive on another box (p3, 550 mHz, 128 mb RAM, intel 810e motherboard) the installation works fine.
any idea what could be going on?
P.S: i'm thinking of buying a laptop. any advice which one would be best suited for running mandriva and is not too costly too :D

thanks

After googling this seems to be a problem with certain raid controllers.

Try google and see what you come up with.