startup font annoyance

I've almost got a new slack 10-current up to speed on a new hard drive for my laptop... I messed with something I should't have, though, because:

right after I've selected the kernel to use (2.6.10), it displays "Undefined mode number: Press <Return> to view video modes available, <Space> to continue

If I hit <Space>, I go through the normal boot up process - but with a weird huge font, and no penguin up in the corner. Normal after that...

If I hit <Return>, I get: Video Adapter: VESA VGA Mode ColsXRows It then lists modes 0 through 6, with their corresponding addresses (I guess) 0F00, 0F01, etc. then, the colsXrows stuff (80x24, 80x28, 80x35....etc.)

Not a big deal, but I'd like to fix this... but don't have a clue as to where to start to look...

Thanks!

that wierd huge font is standard... or it should be. you probably didn't compile the correct vesa framebuffer options.. I've done this before. A lot. check in the graphics support section under device drivers..
you have to add "support for framebuffer devices"
as well as "video mode selection support" under console display driver support

That's not it... it worked a little while ago with the same kernel. I did, however tinker with the xorg.conf file... I did it to adjust the resolution and refresh rate to the same I had on another drive. I copied the xorg.conf to this one (same box, different hard drive) and should've been good to go.

uhhuh...

if that's all.. then this boggles the mind..