Greetings from a beginner...

A beginner to...
Assembly that is specific to x86 CPU, using tasm5 assembler, turbo debugger and Dos. i have no programming merit worth mentioning or any experience in any associated ground.

Now, I want to switch from windows to Linux. My essential concentration now, is to do assembly language in UNIX setting; to Win32/Linux.

A beginner to Linux...
i read the relevant faq, to understand the version of UNIX that suites me, but the information available there, helped only to highlight MY lack of knowledge in the related area.

Anyway, i tried to install Ubuntu 8.1 in xp, using Wubi, following the article at Install Linux... from Windows?.

At one stage, say after 6-9 hours or so, the process hangs, with cursor blinking after the line:
[0.584302] kernel panic – not syncing: VFS:unable to mount root fs on unknown- block (0, 0)

i did make a couple of attempts more, uninstalling and doing everything all over again without the wished-for result. Could someone please help, to clear this setback!!

Any fresh idea concerning the fitting version also would be much appreciated.
Thank you.