Kernel painic: no init found -quick fix?

[cbeok]

I've attempted to install knoppix 3.3, but I get this kernel panic. I used knoppix to look for /etc/init on my hd, and sure enough, I couldn't find it. Infact, init was no where to be found. So, what do I do?
I'm using lilo, and knoppix is the only thing i'm trying to run on this machine.
ok, thanks alot.
-colin