So far you've described what happens when you boot from a floppy.
(Looks to me like you need to label it.)  But:

   I had just "upgraded" it to a newer current by rdisting appropriate
   files from a more up to date machine when I discovered the newer
   kernel would not boot :-(

you mention that it doesn't boot (apparently from your hard disk), but
give no indication as to what happens.


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