yesterday i downloaded 2.6.31.6 kernel and compiled it off my slackware huge-smp-2.6.29.6-smp config, then i decided to lighten and tweak my new kernel into a 2.6.31.6-lite file. i've already removed all the drivers that i dont use as far as sound a network goes, and al the sata, raid and lvm drivers, and changed the cpu from the default pentium pro to pentium m, and the kernel file is already 15 mb smaller and seems to be running slightly(almost only benchmark speeds) faster but now my question is how do i find out what drivers i need that dont show up in lsmod? such as ata drivers(i know its pata but thats all i know) how do i know if there is even a isa bus on this mobo? basicaly how do i know what drivers are being loaded at startup?

Thanks

alan_ri's link in that thread looks great but do you know which command option rob.rice was referring to?

See here (chapter 7):
http://www.kroah.com/lkn/

To save time, I start with the generic kernel and leave things as modules that I probably won't need, or turn them off if I know I won't need them. Modules that are needed for accessing the HDD (ahci or sata and filesystem) should be built-in or you will need to use an initrd.

Some tips from me:

1) search the output of 'dmesg' for the following:
not
found
no
error

take action accordingly (disabling modules that might slow things down because they probe for things that don't exist and may actually cause instability)

2) Check 'lsmod' on a working system to see what modules you will likely need. You can also use the script found in the above reference.

3) Check 'lspci -vv' for PCI hardware that you have, and what modules they are using.