GRUB fails where loadlin works

[Carel Fellinger]

I am trying to bootstrap a Debian install with GRUB, but I fail:(
After some hours trying and reading I give up and turn to you guys.

I've put the necessary files in /debian on a fat32 partition on hda1.
If from a dos prompt I do:

   dosutils\loadlin linux root=/dev/ram initrd=images-1.44/root.bin \
                    disksize=1.44

All's swell, but when I try GRUB menu's like:

   #Menu 1
   title   Debian GNU/Linux setup woody from mirror
   root    (hd0,1)
   kernel  /debian/linux root=/dev/ram
   initrd  /debian/images-1.44/root.bin disksize=1.44
   
   #Menu 2
   title   Debian GNU/Linux setup woody from mirror
   root    (hd0,1)
   kernel  /debian/linux root=/dev/ram initrd=/debian/images-1.44/root.bin \
           disksize=1.44

then the linux kernel barks that it can't mount it's root fs.   

Could some kind soul please explain to me what the heck I'm doing wrong?

-- 
groetjes, carel