RedHat 7.1 hangs at "Starting kswapd" during boot

["jim barr net" <jim barr net>]

I just purchased a book called "The RedHat Linux v7.1 Bible"
and it contained 3 installation CDs.  I have installed Linux
several times before, so the install really was a no-brainer.
 The graphical install went just fine.

The problem is that after the entire install process, it does
a final reboot and when it gets to the message "Starting kswapd",
the system just hangs.  The only way to get out of it is to switch
off the power.  Of course, when it reboots, it hangs at that
point again.  I can never get it to boot cleanly.

I tried re-installing things using several different configurations
(from the "All-in-one" (everything) configuration to a small
bare-bones configuration.)  All resulted  in the same hanging
at the "Starting kswapd" message.

I admit that I am definatly a Linux newbie (know just enough
to get myself into trouble) ;)

I can boot from the CD into a "rescue" mode, but really don't
know where to go from there.

My system is a fairly "vanilla" system...a 333Mhz Compaq Presario
with 64MB RAM, a 4mb HDD, a 3Com ethernet card, and that's about
it.

I installed TurboLinux on it without a hitch, but I really wanted
to "play" with some of the new RedHat features.

Any help would be GREATLY appreciated!!!