I'm new in the Linux world. A few days ago I installed Linux Slackware 12.0. I installed the kernel and all packages that came with it. After the installation was over, I started to boot for the first time. While in BIOS and while the kernel's initializing devices, the keyboard responds (i press NumLock button), but after "Running /etc/rc.d/rc.modules-2.6.21." it gets hooked off and does not respond at all. What's wrong and how can I fix it?

P.S. I've got a PS/2 keyboard and USB-mouse (the latter works perfectly well).

Slackware 12.0, installed "huge.s", Linux 2.6.21.5-smp kernel.
Keyboard is Mitsumi (also used Genius). Both keyboards have PS/2 interface.

Welcome to LQ!

Why do you "run /etc/rc.d/rc.modules-2.6.21."?

That kernel should have support for a PS/2 kbd built in.

The keyboard freezes and when it prompts for the master login the cursor blinks but I'm "handless"...

You didn't understand - this is a string from the boot log after which the keyboard freezes. What I do is start my pc up, choose Linux in LILO and that's all...

Please post the output of that log...

I'm new in the Linux world so I don't know how to get that log without beihg able to use bash (keyboard freezes).
I've typed out this piece of code just where the keyboard comes off:

EXT3 FS on hdc2, internal journal
/dev/hdc2 on / type ext3 (rw)
Running /etc/rc.d/rc.modules-2.6.21.5-smp:
dsdModule dependencies up to date (no new kernel modules found)

I've never had a problem with a PS/2 kbd. With USB, yes; PS/2, never.

When you first boot, go into your BIOS and check the settings for anything related to keyboard, and PS/2.

Boot with the Slackware install CD1 and at the boot prompt enter:
which should get you into your Slackware system. Then you can see what modules the PS/2 mouse is using.

You'll need a USB flash disk, or a shared drive (which I assume you have since you say Slackware is on hdc2), where you can copy this output to later post in your thread here.

We need to see the output of the following commands:
Probably the easiest way to see what the kernel is doing with the kbd is this. Open a terminal, and as root issue "tail -f /var/log/messages" then unplug your kbd. Look at the messages that appear in that terminal, then plug the kbd back in. It will output what the kernel does, what modules it loads, to support the kbd. You can then copy and paste that output to here, also.

I made my keyboard work! What I did - I disconnected it from my pc while the linux kernel was starting up, and connected it back after it run '/etc/rc.d/rc.modules-2.6.21-smp', and it worked! Another condition of its workability is the presence of a ps/2 mouse connected. If it's not there (if I use USB mouse instead) disconnecting the kbd and connecting it again does not help.

I was suggested to install the latest stable version, Slackware 11.0. There might be a problem in the kernel. If the problem persists after I install the 11th version, I'll try to experiment with rc.modules-2.6.21-smp. I guess it runs something that conflicts with the kbd.

Slackware-12.0 is the latest stable version, which you report to have installed.

You have a conflict in your kernel modules, and will not find out what it is by downgrading to Slackware-11.0

Okay, now I know that )
I've managed to get rid of this problem. I can't really say the reason but this is what fixed it: I used USB-mouse and ps/2 kbd, and I the kbd came off after running the modules conf. But then I used ps/2 mouse instead and... this problem was gone! All works well now. Even in KDE I have no problems with the mouse and kbd.

So thanks a lot for your support!