problem with new kernel

[binary_dreamer]

hi there.
i am running debian's stable codenamed Sarge. i followed the tutorial from http://www.howtoforge.com/forums/showthread.php?t=21
about installing a new kernel. after that when i boot the system to the new kernel all i get is:
VFS: cannot open root device "hda5" or unknown-block (0,0)
please append a correct "root=" boot option
kernel panic - not syncing : VFS :unable to mount root fs on unknown -block(0,0)

[falko]

Can you post the contents of /boot/grub/menu.lst and /etc/fstab?

[Januss]

Had the same problem with 2.6.8.
Adding initrd.img-2.6.8 to menu.lst didn't help, just leaded to the next error:
/dev/console not found.
I think that the solution to my problem was - compiling the root filesystem (where / is mounted, for me it was ext3) support in the kernel. I am not 100% sure, because I changed kernel .config quite alot, but I think that this was the main problem.

P.S. Maybe I'm wrong. but then again.. maybe im not.
Hope this helps someone.