Linux kernal panic?

[Circlenaut]

Everytime I try to install linux I just get Linux kernal panic I have windows XP in the same hard drive( of course in different partitions). help?! this is mandrake 8.1

 

[n0cmonkey]

Hardware? What is the OS doing (as exact as you can get) before the panic? Im glad you included the distro, but more information is necessary