5.2.1 p9 --> 5.2 current 20040709 upgrade ATA_IDENTIFY no interrupt

Just upgraded from 5.2.1 p9 to 5.2-current (20040709).  While test booting the 
new kernel, I received the following error.  Unfortunately, I was unable to 
save the dmesg.  Here is the error copied by hand, please excuse typo's:

ata0-master: FAILURE - ATA_IDENTIFY no interrupt
ata0-master: FAILURE - ATA_IDENTIFY no interrupt
Mounting root from ufs:/dev/ad0s1a
setrootbyname failed
ffs_mountroot: can't find rootvp
Root mount failed: 6

System info -

AMD Athlon 1.33 266MHZ DDR (133MHZ FSB).  1024MB ram DDR PC2100
IDE HD as Master 0, Sony DVD+/- RW as Master 1 (disabled -- see below)
NVIDIA GeForce 3 AGP
Sound Blaster live
VIA 8233 UDMA100 controller
ad0: 152627MB <ST3160023A> [310101/16/63] at ata0-master UDMA100

Let me know if there is any additional information needed.

Cursory google search and scan of UPDATING found only two encounters with this 
problem, both of which used a DVD RW drive.  Thinking this might be the 
culprit, I disabled (read unplugged) my Sony DVD+/-RW drive and rebooted to 
no avail.  I attempted to boot w/ disabled ACPI, but I get the same message.

For now I have failed over to the 5.2.1 kernel which works with the -current 
world.  I am interested in testing the new KSE and the changes to the boem gc 
library.  Any suggestions for bootstrapping the -current kernel?

Thanks,
Justin