Ubuntu :: Uncompression Error After Kernel Update?

After upgrading to a new kernel (via an official update from Ubuntu) today, my computer will no longer boot properly. After rebooting to apply the update, my system ran its scheduled disk check (I think it's set to every 30 mounts or something like that). Errors were found and, as the message said, I "[Pressed] F to attempt to fix the Errors." They were fixed. Re-checking now in Knoppix reveals the file system is clean and it is, in fact, mounted as I post. After leaving the computer alone for a while to check, it seems that it had rebooted without my intervention. It's a laptop on AC power and with a full battery so I ruled out a power interruption, but the screen says:

Code:
Booting from [my HD's UUID]...
Starting up...
Uncompression Error
--System Halted

I figure "Ok, new kernel has an issue, I'll boot from one of the backups." I boot from the two previous versions (2.6.32-23 and 2.6.32-22) and both error out with a Kernel Panic and complains:

Code:
Kernel Panic - not syncing: VFS: Unable to mount root fs on unknown-block(0,0).So now I'm stuck with the prospect of backing up all of my data (a lot) and returning my computer to factory settings (Ubuntu 8.10) and re-upgrading or re-installing from scratch losing some of the Dell-supplied software.