kernel panich VFS unable to mount root fs on unknown-block(3,1)

[Craig Russell]

Trying to compile the 2.6.8 kernel from the debian source package (patched) and I keep on running into this problem after reboot.  I have gone back and checked to make sure that the ide drivers have been compiled in but after 5 or 6 attempts I am still getting this error.  The kernel appears to compile fine.  I am using Lilo to as my boot manager and I created an initrd.img with mkinitrd -o /boot/initrd.img.2.6.8 2.6.8.  I created the kernel package via  fakeroot make-kpkg --revision=custom.1.0 kernel_image  and this installs fine (or so it appears).    I've been searching the web and tried many of the suggestions but I'm still getting the same error.   The end result of this operation is to run free/swan with the native ipsec support in the 2.6 kernel.     Thanks for any help you can offer.   Craig Russell AirDigitalNetwork.com