error: ip_tables.o init_module:Device or resource busy

[Steve <sdisemi@tin.it>]

I'd like to preface this mail by saying that if a little knowledge is a 
dangerous thing, then I am very dangerous....

I have recently installed redhat 9.0 and upgraded to iptables 1.2.7a 
with a 2.4.20-18.9 kernel.
When I try to do anything with iptables, I get the following error:-

*************************************************************
e.g. iptables -F
/lib/modules/2.4.20-18.9/kernel/net/ipv4/netfilter/ip_tables.o: 
init_module: Device or resource busy
Hint: insmod errors can be caused by incorrect module parameters, 
including invalid IO or IRQ parameters.
       You may find more information in syslog or the output from dmesg
/lib/modules/2.4.20-18.9/kernel/net/ipv4/netfilter/ip_tables.o: insmod 
/lib/modules/2.4.20-18.9/kernel/net/ipv4/netfilter/ip_tables.o failed
/lib/modules/2.4.20-18.9/kernel/net/ipv4/netfilter/ip_tables.o: insmod 
ip_tables failed
iptables v1.2.7a: can't initialize iptables table `filter': iptables 
who? (do you need to insmod?)
Perhaps iptables or your kernel needs to be upgraded.
******************************************************

Obviously, there is something wrong with either the kernel or iptables 
as I have installed it ( using apt-get install, no thanks to redhat).
I need to get iptables working yesterday.
Can anyone tell me a no-brainer way to achieve this ?
Does my version of kernel work with this version of iptables ?
Do I have to go back to an earlier version ?
Whats the best way to get out of this mess ?
I remember for my dos days we used to do "format c:" in this kind of 
situation.


Thanks a lot,

a moron