Well here's another tough nut to crack:

After the good replies on my post about how to compile the kernel for newbies, i now have a more specific question but also a very pertinent one.

I've been trying to find a way to put linux to work on my laptop (an ASUS L3500D with an AMD athlon 2000+) i have tried A LOT of distros and there isn't a single one that does such a simple thing that windows does with no problem whatsoever:

How the hell do i put linux to standby and/or suspend? Is it impossible to do it without compiling the kernel?
Are all newbies forever doomed to have their laptops unable to suspend and having an hour less of battery time compared to windows?

Please tell me it ain't so...

Do you have a module called 'apm'? That is, will it work to do 'insmod apm' or 'modprobe apm'? There is a Battery Powered Linux Mini-HOWTO that explains some aspects of power management. Most kernels probably have power management turned off, but they may have it compiled as a module for those who need it.

I don't seem to have that module... therefore i'll take that as a no...

It ain't so... but you will need to get your hands dirty with a kernel compile.
I think what you really need to do is add ACPI to your kernel. Not APM. At least thats what I did and it seems to be switching the fan on and off when needed. With APM, the fan just came on after a while and stayed on... very annoying - I nearly burned the leg off myself at one point - and probably pretty dangerous too.
I know it isn't possible to get the computer to automatically enter suspend mode with kernel 2.4.xx, but maybe 2.6 does allow this. (Or maybe I just need to get the software...) I've downloaded the new kernel anyway and will probably give it a bash tonight.
If you read the sticky thread in the Slackware forum, you will see how easy it is to compile the kernel...
Derek.

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Fear is the mind killer.

the man pages on apm and apmd disagree with you
and my linbox with 2.4.22 suspends after 10 minutes when on battery power