mknod create failed on /dev/null, /dev/console

[Helge Weissig]

I stumbled over this somewhat dated thread when I had the same problem 
occur to me just recently. It ended up being a problem with the new 
Linksys Gigabit Ethernet Card that I had installed. While there are 
reports out there that folks have been able to make these cards work 
(http://www.linuxcompatible.org/Linksys_Gigabit_Network_Adapter_EG1032_v3_c12430.html), 
most references point to a general incompatibility.

My system booted fine after I removed the card again.

hth,
h.