Compiling Kernel -1.3.78

[Michael Collins <mcollins@ballistic.com>]

I am attempting to compile linux-1.3.78.
The configuration includes scsi, ide, 3c509, NE2000.... drivers and
the IPX network protocol support.

I just succesfully compiled gcc-2.5.8 and gcc-2.6.3 
to see if the compiler version makes a difference in these errors.
Compiler version makes no apparent difference in the errors 
recieved when compiling the kernel.

the errors look like this:
ld -m elf_i386 -r -o kernel.o  ksyms.o   . . . . .
make[2]:***[kernel.o] Segmentation fault
make[2]:***Deleting file 'kernel.o'
make[2]:Leaving directory '/usr/src/linux-1.3.8/linux/kernel
make[1]:***[first_rule] Error 2
make[1]:Leaving directory /usr/src/linux-1.3.8/linux/kernel
make:***[linuxsubdirs] Error 2

Is this an error at link time?
Any suggestions on how to correct the problem?

Thanks,

Michael Collins           		mcollins@ballistic.com
Ballistic Corporation  		voice (903) 533-0584
615 S. Broadway         		fax   (903) 5953715
Tyler, TX 75701        			modem (903) 533-1965