Very Computer

I am trying to install Redhat 5.2 on a Dell Precision 610 system.
Before I give the system details, I have not even been able to get past
the boot.img installation phase.  I have used the newest boot.img I can
find (on the redhat site, dated Dec. 29) and when booting up the last
few lines are:

scsi : 0 hosts.
scsi : detected total.
Partition check:
hdc: [zip drive stuff ...]
hdc: no media in the drive
VFS: Cannot open root device 8:18
Kernel panic: VFS: Unable to mount root fs on 8:18

The system

        Dell Precision 610
        Internal Zip
        1024 M of RAM
        2 Scsi controllers,
                Adaptec AIC-7890 for the
                        hard drives (2: 9 Gig Seagate Drives)
                Adaptec AIC-7880 for
                        CDROM and Seagate Tape Drive
        Video Card: Diamond 8 MB Permedia 2

Windows NT is already installed on the first 2 MB of the first
hard drive.

Any and all help would be most appreciated.

Thanks,

Robert Mentle