Unable to upgrade from RedHat 8.0 with Reiserfs root located on raid5

[Kevin Freeman <kfreem02 attbi com>]

How can I convince the installer to load the reiserfs module before it 
proclaims that I have no Linux partitions?  Starting an install with 
"linux reiserfs" does not allow the installer to recognize reiserfs, at 
least not on raid 5.  I have booted from the RedHat 9 CD with the following:

no arguments - just hit <enter> :
- root partition not found, so no Upgrade install option
- Disk Druid shows /dev/md0 under Raid Devices but type is "foreign"
    - as expected, reiserfs is not listed as a partition type when 
creating new partition

"linux reiserfs":
- root partition not found, so no Upgrade install option
- Disk Druid shows /dev/md0 under Raid Devices but type is _still_ "foreign"
    - reiserfs _is_ now listed as a partition type when creating new 
partition

and for fun, "linux rescue":
- root partition not found, so nothing mounted under /mnt/sysimage
- I typed 3 commands, and was able to access the root raid:
    - raidstart /dev/md0
    - mkdir /mnt/sysimage
    - mount /dev/md0 /mnt/sysimage

The machine is currently running kernel-2.4.18-27.8.0.  My hunch is that 
reiserfs is not in the initrd.  Is this correct?  Is there any boot 
parameter that will cause the reiserfs module to be loaded _before_ the 
filesystems are scanned for linux partitions by the installer?  If not, 
how can I make my own CD 1 which has reiserfs in the initrd?

Thanks in advance,
Kevin