On Mon, 28 Oct 1996 07:35:39 -0600  Andrew Litt wrote:

> I then
> tried extracting the kernel from the 1.2 miniroot, and now it gets to
> the point of asking me for a root device, but then prints:
> 
> root device? rz0
> rconsattach: 1 raster consoles
> init: copying out flags `-s' 3
> init: copying out path `/sbin/init' 11
> 
> The system hits the drive a couple of times after this, and then
> freezes.

This sounds suspiciously like /dev/console is missing.  Are there any
files at all in /dev?  It's been a while since I did an install, but if
you check /dev, and it's relatively empty, try running "./MAKEDEV std".

Simon.