Booting 2.6.8 on x686 Sarge without initrd: VFS: Unable to mount root fs

["KokHow Teh" <KokHow.Teh@marconi.com>]

Hi;
      I am building 2.6.8 kernel source on my x686 Sarge system wihtout
using initrd. The kernel-patch.2.6.8 only applies to the prebuilt 2.6.8_2
kernel package and not a prestine kernel. So, I am not using initrd for my
2.6.8 kernel build. The system boots up but cannot mount teh root fs. What
am I missing?
      Any advice and insight is appreciated.

Regards,
TEH