use 'make-kpkg' --initrd kernel-image modules-image

You will then have an extra file copied to boot called initrd.blah-blah-blah. When you edit lilo.conf for the new kernel add the line
initrd=/boot/initrd.blah-blah-blah just like in the default entry there is
initrd=/boot/initrd.gz

To make sure the kernel is compatible with initrd, make sure initrd is checked Y when you use 'make xconfig'. It is at the bottom of the one xconfig window (I think the file system button) . It is the last button in one of the windows early on.


By the way, do you have an IDE or SCSI system?