I can only get my 2.6.17-7 kernel to boot (same symptoms and 2.6.17-6 boots fine) by changing /dev/sda1 to /dev/hda1 in the kernel parameters.
I have 3 (older) machines that exhibit the same behaviour. A fourth (more recent) machine boots fine, but it has a SATA disk.
I can only get my 2.6.17-7 kernel to boot (same symptoms and 2.6.17-6 boots fine) by changing /dev/sda1 to /dev/hda1 in the kernel parameters.
I have 3 (older) machines that exhibit the same behaviour. A fourth (more recent) machine boots fine, but it has a SATA disk.