I'm at my wit's end trying to install Slackware 11.0 on an old Dell Dimension XPS R450. I breezed through the install -- did the "full" version -- but I'm having problems getting x to run. (Doesn't matter what x environment I try; same results.)

When I run "startx", the environment loads up just fine and the desktop is visible and good in appearance. However, the mouse pointer will not move, and the keyboard will not respond, either.

I'm running the default version of the kernel (2.4.x) that comes on the Slackware installation media. My mouse is a PS/2 Microsoft Intellimouse, and my keyboard is a Microsoft Internet Pro. I've tried changing to a regular PS/2 mouse and 101-key keyboard to no avail. In addition to going through the "expert" mode (xorgconfig) of setting up my xorg.conf file, I also tried the "automagic" approach of xorgsetup. No joy no matter what I try.

One more thing I should mention, I suppose: When I initially did my install, I specified that I wanted gpm to start at boot time. However, when I did that, it caused my system to freeze. (Keyboard wouldn't work from the console.) Therefore, gpm is no longer running, and I don't think I want/need it to in order to run x.

I'm a bit of a newb when it comes to Linux, but this is very frustrating, and I'm about to drop back and punt and put the #&(^$(#*&! Windows 98 installation media back in there and call it a day.

Any thoughts on what to try next before I give up the ghost?

Thanks
Tony

When you reboot, try looking at /var/log/Xorg.0.log (or similar) and see if any errors are specified in there.