Zombies Paralyzed Linux!! (fwd)

[micros50 <micros50 computer net>]

The other day I came up with a strange problem that never happened before and
hopefully will never happen to me again.

Using the "File Configuration Tool" is the X-Window control panel I unmounted
my floppy drive "/dev/fd0", removed the disc from the drive, installed a new 
disk, ran "mkfs -t ext2 /dev/fd0 1440" from an xterm to create an ext2 type 
filesystem on the disk,and then using the same config tool I remounted 
the device. I then suddenly noticed that I had trouble reading the new disc 
on /dev/fd0.I then tried to do a "df" command and the command just hung. 
I exited x-window and tried df again and the command hung and I couldn't 
get my $ prompt back.I switched to another virtual console, logged in and I 
ran "ps -auf" and virtually all the normal processes were listed as 
zombies. Puzzled I tried to reboot the system via "shutdown -r now" and 
the shutdown process just wouldn't run. I tried "shutdown -h now &" and I 
got the response, "system going down " and the command just hung and did 
nothing and I couldn't cancel the shutdown nor could I get my prompt 
back. Again I had to go to another virtual console. I tried to kill a few 
processes that were not listed as zombies and they wouldn't kill. Running 
"ps -auf" again all the processes were still in the table and virtually all 
listed as zombies. Again I tried to do a shutdown and I got boopkis, the 
shutdown wouldn't happen and again I lost control of the console. At this 
point having nothing but a process table full of zombies, 3 dead virtual 
consoles, and unable to run shutdown I did the forbidden. Yeah, I closed 
my eyes, hit the big switch on the machine, and rebooted the whole 
computer. I got to LILO prompt, typed  linux, and viola!, Linux rebooted 
and came up. I logged in as root, repaired my file sytems, and
everything was normal, my process table normal with no zombies. Everythings
been functionaing normally since.

 I have never encountered this problem before. It has not occurred since then.
I am running an older kernel "verion 1.2.13" under RH 3.0.3 (Picasso).

Has anything like this ever happened to anyone before? Any insights into why 
the system became zombified and/or what precautions can I take to prevent
such an  occurrence? What can I do should this ever happen again ?

My knowledge of Linux/Unix is still intermediate, I am still not yet a master.

/Thanks
/ John Hollister <asst. sys admin>
/ micros50 computer net