Kernel panic in first boot

[rp2615]

I've just installed the base package in a toshiba laptop using the netinst cd, the installation goes fine but when I boot the machine I get:

"/sbin/init: 432: cannot open dev/console: No such file
Kernel panic: Attempted to kill init!"

For what I've seen online it may be related with the partitioning, I have windows xp on /dev/hda1 and debian on /dev/hda2, I've used this setup with other distros and it never caused any problems.

Any idea on what the problem might be?

Thanks!

[genesus]

give us your grub.conf or menu.lst. I think you may have forgotten to put in an initrd

[rp2615]

Thxs for the quick reply!

How do I do that (it won't boot even in recovery mode)?
Edit: Got it (menu.lst)

# menu.lst - See: grub(, info grub, update-grub(
# grub-install(, grub-floppy(,
# grub-md5-crypt, /usr/share/doc/grub
# and /usr/share/doc/grub-doc/.

## default num
# Set the default entry to the entry number NUM. Numbering starts from 0, and
# the entry number 0 is the default if the command is not used.
#
# You can specify 'saved' instead of a number. In this case, the default entry
# is the entry saved with the command 'savedefault'.
default 0

## timeout sec
# Set a timeout, in SEC seconds, before automatically booting the default entry
# (normally the first entry defined).
timeout 5

# Pretty colours
color cyan/blue white/blue

## password ['--md5'] passwd
# If used in the first section of a menu file, disable all interactive editing
# control (menu entry editor and command-line) and entries protected by the
# command 'lock'
# e.g. password topsecret
# password --md5 $1$gLhU0/$aW78kHK1QfV3P2b2znUoe/
# password topsecret

#
# examples
#
# title Windows 95/98/NT/2000
# root (hd0,0)
# makeactive
# chainloader +1
#
# title Linux
# root (hd0,1)
# kernel /vmlinuz root=/dev/hda2 ro
#

#
# Put static boot stanzas before and/or after AUTOMAGIC KERNEL LIST

### BEGIN AUTOMAGIC KERNELS LIST
## lines between the AUTOMAGIC KERNELS LIST markers will be modified
## by the debian update-grub script except for the default options below

## DO NOT UNCOMMENT THEM, Just edit them to your needs

## ## Start Default Options ##
## default kernel options
## default kernel options for automagic boot options
## If you want special options for specifiv kernels use kopt_x_y_z
## where x.y.z is kernel version. Minor versions can be omitted.
## e.g. kopt=root=/dev/hda1 ro
# kopt=root=/dev/hda2 ro

## default grub root device
## e.g. groot=(hd0,0)
# groot=(hd0,1)

## should update-grub create alternative automagic boot options
## e.g. alternative=true
## alternative=false
# alternative=true

## should update-grub lock alternative automagic boot options
## e.g. lockalternative=true
## lockalternative=false
# lockalternative=false

## altoption boot targets option
## multiple altoptions lines are allowed
## e.g. altoptions=(extra menu suffix) extra boot options
## altoptions=(recovery mode) single
# altoptions=(recovery mode) single

## controls how many kernels should be put into the menu.lst
## only counts the first occurence of a kernel, not the
## alternative kernel options
## e.g. howmany=all
## howmany=7
# howmany=all

## should update-grub create memtest86 boot option
## e.g. memtest86=true
## memtest86=false
# memtest86=true

## ## End Default Options ##

title Debian GNU/Linux, kernel 2.4.27-3-386
root (hd0,1)
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.4.27-3-386 root=/dev/hda2 ro
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.4.27-3-386
savedefault
boot

title Debian GNU/Linux, kernel 2.4.27-3-386 (recovery mode)
root (hd0,1)
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.4.27-3-386 root=/dev/hda2 ro single
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.4.27-3-386
savedefault
boot

### END DEBIAN AUTOMAGIC KERNELS LIST

# This is a divider, added to separate the menu items below from the Debian
# ones.
title Other operating systems:
root


# This entry automatically added by the Debian installer for a non-linux OS
# on /dev/hda1
title Microsoft Windows XP Professional
root (hd0,0)
savedefault
makeactive
chainloader +1

[shezaan]

I get the same 432 error. How can I edit the menu.lst. I am a newbie so please list the steps. I can't even boot into recovery mode.
Thanks in advance