Can not get a floppy only install to work

[Tom <tlm@computechnology.com>]

Hi,

 I have an IBM PS/2 Model 8535 386sx with 4 meg RAM and a 75meg IDE hard
drive and a 1.44 meg floppy drive. I am trying to do a base Debian
install but can not get past the second disk. I have tried 2.1 and 2.2
now with the exact same results and error message. I start with the
compact rescue disk, the system comes toa a prompt boot: I press enter,
the system continues and then asks for the root disk. I insert the
floppy that I made with the compact root.bin file and press enter the
system then responds with
end_request: I/O error, dev 02:00 (floppy) sector 0
VFS: can not open root device 02:00
This message is consistent and I have already tried remaking the
floppies on other new floppy disks, I have tried boot params of
root=/dev/fd0 or floppy0 and always I have the same error message.
After two days of fighting with this I would appreciate any help
Thanks