Unable to boot linux-2.6.7

Hi,
I recently tried to move to linux-2.6 series from linux-2.4. I have installed Slackware 9.1 and it can boot with success using a kernel a have configured of linux-2.4.25, but when I try to boot the linux-2.6.7 which I have compiled it freezes with the messages:

VFS: Cannot open root device '1605' or unknown-block (22,5)
Please append a correct "root=" boot option
Kenrel panic: VFS: Unable to mount root fs on unknown-block (22,5)

I have a 120GB Western Digital WD120JD Hard Disk which is connected to a SATA controller in my motherboard. As I have read on the mailing lists usually the problem is that either the filesystem or the disk is not supported. I have sellected support for my ext2 (my filesystem), ide and SATA (under SCSI low level drivers). I tried to append a root= boot option to my lilo.conf but I got the same error.

Any help?

Thanks
Nikos

when you added the correct "root=" path in your lilo.conf did you then run the /sbin/lilo?(i think that is the path) to make the changes take effect?

have you tried removing that parameter from the boot line?

Yes I ran /sbin/lilo again...as I believe the problem is either to the kernel parameters or lilo.conf options. Bo you think I should try to compile the kenrel with module support for ext2 and sata and then use a initrd.img file? For the time being I am not using an initrd option and the 'root=' option in lilo.cof doesn't affect the problem as I didn't use it and there was the same problem

Thanks
Nikos