Kernel 2.4.18 image unbootable, source uncompilable

[Tim <gob@subdimension.com>]

Hi,

I have a new computer on which I am trying to use kernel 2.4.18, so far
without success.  I can use 2.2.20-idepci without problems.  I am using
Debian Woody rev 0, on an AMD Athlon XP 2200+, with ASUS A7N266-VM
motherboard, which has nVidia nForce chipset-that requires 2.4.18
kernel.  I have tried to use the kernel image as well as compiled from
source, so far without success.

1.  Kernel image, obtained with dselect from my installation CDs.  I
have verified that /vmlinuz points to /boot/vmlinuz-2.4.18-k7 and
/initrd.img points to /boot/initrd.img-2.4.18-k7.  My GrUB boot line reads:

kernel (hd0,0)/vmlinuz root=/dev/hda1 initrd=/initrd.img

The kernel panic message is:

request_module[block-major-3]: Root fs not mounted
VFS: Cannot open root device "hda1" or 03:01
Please append a correct "root=" boot option
Kernel panic: VFS: Unable to mount root fs on 03:01

I have looked in /boot/config-2.4.18-k7 and found that IDE support is
compiled as a module.  I presume my initrd doesn't use this module at
the moment.  I am not familiar with mkinitrd so am unsure about how to
ensure this module is installed into the initrd.  Hopefully it is a
simple solution.  Do I have to use make config while in a specific
directory?

2.  Kernel compilation-I have tried multiple times with various kernel
configurations.  Make bzImage fails to complete.  The error message is:

In file included from
/home/tim/tmp/kernel-source-2.4.18/include/linux/tty.h:21,
  from /home/tim/tmp/kernel-source-2.4.18/include/linux/sched.h:24,
  from /home/tim/tmp/kernel-source-2.4.18/include/linux/mm.h:4,
  from /home/tim/tmp/kernel-source-2.4.18/include/linux/slab.h:14,
  from /home/tim/tmp/kernel-source-2.4.18/include/linux/proc_fs.h:5,
  from init/main.c:15,
/home/tim/tmp/kernel-source-2.4.18/include/linux/major.h:48: warning:
missing white space after '#define SCSI_GENERIC_MA'
In file included from
/home/tim/tmp/kernel-source-2.4.18/include/linux/tty.h:21,
  from /home/tim/tmp/kernel-source-2.4.18/include/linux/sched.h:24,
  from /home/tim/tmp/kernel-source-2.4.18/include/linux/mm.h:4,
  from /home/tim/tmp/kernel-source-2.4.18/include/linux/slab.h:14,
  from /home/tim/tmp/kernel-source-2.4.18/include/linux/proc_fs.h:5,
  from init/main.c:15:
/home/tim/tmp/kernel-source-2.4.18/include/linux/major.h: In function
'ide_blk_major':
/home/tim/tmp/kernel-source-2.4.18/include/linux/major.h:189:
'IDE1_MAJOR' undeclared (first use in this function)
/home/tim/tmp/kernel-source-2.4.18/include/linux/major.h:189: (Each
undeclared identifier is reported only once
/home/tim/tmp/kernel-source-2.4.18/include/linux/major.h:189: for each
function it appears in.)
/home/tim/tmp/kernel-source-2.4.18/include/linux/major.h:190: warning:
control reached end of non-void function
In file included from
/home/tim/tmp/kernel-source-2.4.18/include/linux/blkdev.h:6,
  from /home/tim/tmp/kernel-source-2.4.18/include/linux/blk.h:4,
  from init/main.c:25:
/home/tim/tmp/kernel-source-2.4.18/include/linux/genhd.h: In function
'disk_index':
/home/tim/tmp/kernel-source-2.4.18/include/linux/genhd.h:270:
'IDE1_MAJOR' undeclared (first time use in this function)
make: *** [init/main.o] Error 1

Do you suggest I post to a kernel list?  I have found people on this
list to be very helpful so this is my starting point.

Thank you in anticipation.

Tim B.