the boot options i used were:
boot: Linux 3 hda=noprobe root=/dev/sda2

here are the bottom lines of the boot script:

EXT3-fs: mounted filesystem with ordered data mode.
FVS: Mounted root (ext3 filesystem) readonly.
Freeing unused kernel memory: 284k freed
input: AT Translated SEt 2 keyboard as /class/input/input0
INIT: version 2.84 booting
proc on /proc type proc (rw)
sysfs on /sys type sysfs (rw)
modprobe: FATAL: Could not load /lib/modules/2.6.17.13/modules.dep: No such file or directory

modprobe: FATAL: Could not load /lib/modules/2.6.17.13/modules.dep: No such file or directory

swapon: /dev/hda1: No such device or address
Testing root filesystem status: read-only filesystem
Checking root filesystem:
fsck 1.38 (30-Jun-2005)
modprobe: FATAL: Could not load /lib/modules/2.6.17.13/modules.dep: No such file or directory

modprobe: FATAL: Could not load /lib/modules/2.6.17.13/modules.dep: No such file or directory

modprobe: FATAL: Could not load /lib/modules/2.6.17.13/modules.dep: No such file or directory

modprobe: FATAL: Could not load /lib/modules/2.6.17.13/modules.dep: No such file or directory

/sbin/e2fsck: No such device or address while trying to open /dev/hda2
Possible non-existent or swap device?

**********************************************************
*** An error occurred during the root fileystem check. ***
*** You will now be given a chance to log into the     ***
*** system in single-user mode to fix the problem.     ***
***                                                    ***
*** If you are using the ext filesystem, running       ***
*** 'e2fsck -v -y <partition>' might help.             ***
**********************************************************

Once you exit the single-user shell, the system will reboot.

Type control-d to proceed with normal startup,
(or give root password for system maintenance):