Your initrd isn't loading your scsi module properly, or you aren't using an initrd and scsi isn't built into the kernel.
Strangely, I'm running XP at the moment (almost always in Debian)
....
Now back in debian.
You can (maybe) modify the initrd file by mounting it on a loop device, copy the extra modules there if needed, etc.
Or say screw it and go back to Slack. But buy it - Patrick had some health issues, and could use the $
