Persistant issue with 2.4.20 kernel - VFS: Cannot open root device

[Eric Smith <es@fruitcom.com>]

I mailed a week ago regarding this and have been suffering ever since.

I have a working booting woody installation with a 2.2.20-idepci
kernel.  Then installed a 2.4.20 kernel as a dual boot.

Whenever I select the 2.4.20 kernel, I get the below error:

Cannot open root device "302" or 03:02
Please append a correct "root=" boot option
Kernel Panic: VFS: unable to mount root fs on 03:02

fs is ext2.
Now why does the newer kernel not see the root fs?
Has it to with the proc fs not being mounted or
some required modules not being loaded.  I am not sure if the modules
in /etc/modules get loaded before the panic seen below.
Wish there was more debug info.

What gives?  


Thanks

PS:
above kernel panic,  I can see FWIW:
kswapd
VFS: dquot.6.4.0
devfs: boot options : 0x0
RAMDISK DRIVER
NET4



-- 
Eric Smith