thanks for the response.. 

sorry I didn't mention but the system only has 9 megs of ram..

2 30 pin banks and 1 72 bank  (2 x 4x1mb 30pin and 1 x 1mb 72 pin)

I'm now getting a block free kernel panic btw.... so it isn't too much fun

my only thought at this stage is that (I know it is def to do with the 
controller and drive additions) is to move all binary install data to 
floppy and remove the ide controller.. but I still don't know what the 
prob was...

	-James