After boot, kdm should start (default window manager), but it fails before the X screen is up and comes back to a console. According to kdm.log it fails to initialize the mice (touchpad and external usb mouse).
The funny thing is, if I then login at the console and start kdm by hand (by just typing 'kdm'), it starts up, and I have to login again at the graphical login box of kdm. Both mice work just fine at this point.
Debian 2.6.6 on Vaio laptop.

kdm.log
======
XFree86 Version 4.3.0.1 (Debian 4.3.0.dfsg.1-4 20040529113443)
Release Date: 15 August 2003
X Protocol Version 11, Revision 0, Release 6.6
Build Operating System: Linux 2.6.6-rc3-bk9 i686 [ELF]
Build Date: 29 May 2004
Before reporting problems, check
to make sure that you have the latest version.
Module Loader present
OS Kernel: Linux version 2.6.6-1-686 (herbert@gondolin) (gcc version 3.3.3 (Debian 20040401)) #1 Wed May 12 14:57:57 EST 2004
Markers: (--) probed, (**) from config file, (==) default setting,
(++) from command line, (!!) notice, (II) informational,
(WW) warning, (EE) error, (NI) not implemented, (??) unknown.
(==) Log file: "/var/log/XFree86.0.log", Time: Mon Jul 5 12:20:05 2004
(==) Using config file: "/etc/X11/XF86Config-4"
Skipping "/usr/X11R6/lib/modules/extensions/libGLcore.a:m_debug_clip.o": No symbols found
Skipping "/usr/X11R6/lib/modules/extensions/libGLcore.a:m_debug_norm.o": No symbols found
Skipping "/usr/X11R6/lib/modules/extensions/libGLcore.a:m_debug_xform.o": No symbols found
Skipping "/usr/X11R6/lib/modules/extensions/libGLcore.a:m_debug_vertex.o": No symbols found
Skipping "/usr/X11R6/lib/modules/fonts/libspeedo.a:spencode.o": No symbols found
(WW) ATI(0): Failed to set up write-combining range (0xfd000000,0x800000)
(WW) ATI(0): Failed to set up write-combining range (0xfd000000,0x800000)
Symbol xf86XVCopyYUV12ToPacked from module /usr/X11R6/lib/modules/drivers/atimisc_drv.o is unresolved!
(EE) xf86OpenSerial: Cannot open device /dev/input/mice
No such device.
(EE) Configured Mouse: cannot open input device
(EE) PreInit failed for input device "Configured Mouse"
(EE) xf86OpenSerial: Cannot open device /dev/psaux
No such device.
(EE) Generic Mouse: cannot open input device
(EE) PreInit failed for input device "Generic Mouse"
The XKEYBOARD keymap compiler (xkbcomp) reports:

>> Error: Can't find file "pc/uk" for symbols include
>> Exiting
>> Abandoning symbols file "default"

Errors from xkbcomp are not fatal to the X server
No core pointer

Fatal server error:
failed to initialize core devices

donkey; clue to ur problem is at bottom of page in ur input to this forum.
probable missing module to load those devices. redo install.

If I have to solve every problem with 'redo install' than I might as well stick with Windows.

As I wrote in my original post, starting kdm by hand after the initial failure, it works well. So it could be that the mouse devices are not ready at the time of first launch of kdm, but then again, I I look at my dmesg, it looks as if the mouse is found:
...
usbcore: registered new driver hiddev
input: USB HID v1.10 Mouse [Logitech USB Mouse] on usb-0000:00:07.2-2
usbcore: registered new driver hid
drivers/usb/input/hid-core.c: v2.0:USB HID core driver
mice: PS/2 mouse device common for all mice
usbcore: registered new driver usbmouse
drivers/usb/input/usbmouse.c: v1.6:USB HID Boot Protocol mouse driver
ts: Compaq touchscreen protocol output
...

The last line puzzles me though. I don't have a Compaq but a Vaio laptop.
Maybe this 'ts' module breaks the mouse?
How do I remove it from the boot sequence?

I found the solution in the Debian Forum on this site:

http://www.linuxquestions.org/questi...20#post1012420

Thanks for your input.