iptables v1.2.3: can't initialize iptables table `filter': Module is wrong version

[peter k.]

iptables keeps telling me that whenever i run it although i got the latest
kernel, latest iptables and all modules required for iptables are loaded (it
also doesnt work when i compile them into the kernel)!
anyone got an idea how to fix this?

[root@HOST2 /]# iptables -L
iptables v1.2.3: can't initialize iptables table `filter': Module is wrong
version
Perhaps iptables or your kernel needs to be upgraded.
[root@HOST2 /]# cat /proc/version
Linux version 2.4.12 (root@HOST2) (gcc version 2.96 20000731 (Mandrake Linux
8.1 2.96-0.62mdk)) #1 Sat Oct 13 12:12:08 CEST 2001
[root@HOST2 /]# grep _NF_ /usr/src/linux/.config
CONFIG_IP_NF_CONNTRACK=m
CONFIG_IP_NF_FTP=m
# CONFIG_IP_NF_QUEUE is not set
CONFIG_IP_NF_IPTABLES=m
CONFIG_IP_NF_MATCH_LIMIT=m
CONFIG_IP_NF_MATCH_MAC=m
CONFIG_IP_NF_MATCH_MARK=m
# CONFIG_IP_NF_MATCH_MULTIPORT is not set
# CONFIG_IP_NF_MATCH_TOS is not set
# CONFIG_IP_NF_MATCH_TCPMSS is not set
CONFIG_IP_NF_MATCH_STATE=m
# CONFIG_IP_NF_MATCH_UNCLEAN is not set
# CONFIG_IP_NF_MATCH_OWNER is not set
CONFIG_IP_NF_FILTER=m
# CONFIG_IP_NF_TARGET_REJECT is not set
# CONFIG_IP_NF_TARGET_MIRROR is not set
CONFIG_IP_NF_NAT=m
CONFIG_IP_NF_NAT_NEEDED=y
CONFIG_IP_NF_TARGET_MASQUERADE=m
# CONFIG_IP_NF_TARGET_REDIRECT is not set
CONFIG_IP_NF_NAT_FTP=m
# CONFIG_IP_NF_MANGLE is not set
CONFIG_IP_NF_TARGET_LOG=m
# CONFIG_IP_NF_TARGET_TCPMSS is not set
# CONFIG_IP_NF_COMPAT_IPCHAINS is not set
# CONFIG_IP_NF_COMPAT_IPFWADM is not set