Re: kernel panic on or after bootup

I would install FreeBSD, and see what happens as a test if you don't suspect hardware problems, and if FreeBSD gives you problems, then it's just hardware compatibility is all.

Then you might need to disable, or enable different hardware features, in the BIOS, like APIC, ACPI, dma, hard drive controllers, PNP Bios, etc.. From what I have seen as BSD steps more into the world of APIC, things get a bit more touchy, I'm not sure, but I think the GENERIC kernel might have some APIC support compiled in it.

Either way if it's in there, or not, it's good to find out what your board wants, or can get away with.
You might just need to recompile a kernel to get some better support by turning off alot of unnecessary things that might just be fouling it up.

BSD hardware support can be problematic at times.