Kernel Panic! on iMac G3 install

[Conspyre]

I'm trying to install Ubuntu on a venerable trayloading iMac. It's specs are:
PPC G3 333mhz
32 megs RAM, 64 megs virtual
6 gig HDD

I initialized the disk with a minimum size MacOS partition for OS9, and the rest as what the system called a Linux Home Partition. Then I booted off of the Ubuntu 6.06.1 alternate PPC install, since I'd read somewhere that the full installation doesn't work right with a machine this wimpy. With both the default installation option and "install /ofonly", I get this:

[ 53.182047] RAMDISK: incomplete write (-28 != 3276 8388608
[ 53.356164] RAMDISK: ran out of compressed data
[ 53.356384] invalid compressed format (err=1)
[ 53.360762] Kernel panic - not syncing: VFS: Unable to mount root fs on unknown-block(1,0)
[ 53.361095]

After the last number, the cursor just sits there, not blinking. I can't type anything, and after a couple of minutes (About just as long as it took me to copy the screen text), the machine reboots. Do I have the disk formatted wrong or something? This is my first time trying to install Linux, and after already spending a couple hours failing to install Gentoo on the same machine, I'm about ready to chuck it out the window.

[Conspyre]

Update: I tried with the minimal installer for 7.04 and got the same error messages, just different numbers on the left.

[bodycoach2]

I've installed Xubuntu on two iMac 333 MHz machines. Same configurations, except I got more memory for them. One has 190 meg Ram, the other 128 - or somewhere in that range. I think the problem is the RAM. I've tried loading Xubuntu on a Pentium II with only 64 meg ram, and it's just not worth it. I'm not sure even DSL (Damn Small Linux) will work with 32meg.

Checkout LowEndMac for info on getting memory for that computer.
http://lowendmac.com
Also, I'd recommend trashing Mac OS9. If you can get that iMac's RAM up to about 256, Xubuntu will run fine on it.