Thanks for the quick response.
You should enable swap ("swapon /swapfile") before running fsck, you'll get out-of-memory errors like that one otherwise.
Ah....the little things you forget when you haven't logged into the console of your empeg in a couple years.
there's a problem with the IDE cable
I've replaced the cable before, but it was mailed to me from support. Do you know where to get a pre-made one now, or do I have to find a laptop one and cut it down? Either way, I'll take it appart when I get home from work and just double check the seating.
Thanks again.