Slackware is really Fast, I think I will stick to it

Hello friends,
I am not new to linux and I have used many distributions till now but, never thought about getting to Slackware. But, going through many threads, I heard about Slackware so much. So, 15 days back, I installed it on my machine. For some reasons, X didn't work and all my knowledge about networking didn't help me setup internet. After 2 hours of frustration. I uninstalled it and went back to my favourite Ubuntu.
But, it kept on pinching me that I failed to make Slackware work. So, I gave it another try yesterday. A member of this forum Slackhack gave me a link to http://www.slackbook.org which helped me with these problems.
Now, I have it working on my PC. And to my surprise, it works much faster than other distributions which I have tried.
I am happy with Slack but, here are some problems which I am trying to fix
1) the scroll wheel of the mouse is not working.
2) I don't know how to install / uninstall packages in Slackware. I don't think the .rpm or .deb concept is gonna work here.
3) Whenever I boot it, I see the text login screen instead of the GUI login screen. Each time I have to do a startx, even with runlevel 5.
4) How to add / remove scripts at boot (eg. I want to start dhcpcd at boot, I have put it in /etc/rc.d/rc.local. But, I want to start it with other network services)
And suggestions?

1) the scroll wheel of the mouse is not working. 2) I don't know how to install / uninstall packages in Slackware. I don't think the .rpm or .deb concept is gonna work here.

for the mouse, you need to edit your /etc/X11/xorg.conf file, and under the mouse section, add the lines

Option "Buttons" "5"
Option "ZAxisMapping" "4 5"

this is mine...

Section "InputDevice"

# Identifier and driver

    Identifier	"Mouse1"
    Driver	"mouse"
    Option "Protocol"    "IMPS/2"	# IntelliMouse PS/2
    Option "Device"      "/dev/mouse"
    Option "Buttons" "5" 
    Option "ZAxisMapping" "4 5"

assuming you have a standard 3 button mouse, that is...

for packages, slack uses .tgz files which you install using pkgtool, where you would use "rpm -ivh <foopackage>" an rpm based distro, in slack you use "installpkg <foo>*.tgz"

most answers to all your questions are here someplace, you just need to search a bit to find them, also, google is your friend...

meanwhile, welcome to slackware!!! you're gonna love it.

2) I don't know how to install / uninstall packages in Slackware. I don't think the .rpm or .deb concept is gonna work here.

see chapter 18 in the slackbook!!

For some packages you can always use slapt-get, and other pkgtool. You can find some good Slackware packages at http://www.linuxpackages.net/.

On another note, Ubuntu was the first distribution I tried, and I was surprised at how fast it was on my computer... but then I tried Slack and was blown away.

Originally Posted by detpenguin Option "Buttons" "5" Option "ZAxisMapping" "4 5"

Wow...now the scroll wheel of the mouse works fine. Thanks.

Originally Posted by detpenguin in slack you use "installpkg <foo>*.tgz"

Thanks. It works.

Originally Posted by detpenguin meanwhile, welcome to slackware!!! you're gonna love it.

Yes, it's good.

Originally Posted by 320mb see chapter 18 in the slackbook!!

Yes, it's there. Thanks.

In answer to your third question, Slackware doesn't use runlevel 5. If you want to start straight in X, use runlevel 4.

Originally Posted by Voltar For some packages you can always use slapt-get

Sounds familiar. I will try this one for sure.

Originally Posted by Voltar On another note, Ubuntu was the first distribution I tried, and I was surprised at how fast it was on my computer... but then I tried Slack and was blown away

I think both of them are good at their own grounds. Ubuntu is relatively more easier to maintain. Slackware seems to be fast and stable.

Be careful with slapt-get. From what I've read about it, it's good for maintaining some of your extra packages, but don't try updating your whole system with it!

Originally Posted by Gethyn Be careful with slapt-get. From what I've read about it, it's good for maintaining some of your extra packages, but don't try updating your whole system with it!

Thanks Gethyn, I will be careful.

Well, you're hooked now and i am almost sure you're never going back to your old distros, just be patient and stick to it, and you'll soon realize the true power of Slackware

Originally Posted by Gethyn In answer to your third question, Slackware doesn't use runlevel 5. If you want to start straight in X, use runlevel 4.

Cool, I just changed my /etc/inittab and changed the default runlevel to 4. Now it works fine with GUI mode. How did I miss that .
Within 30 mins after posting my problems, nearly all of them are solved. Thank you all for your time and help. Now, I need to find a best place to put these lines (as my PC is the internet sharing server for my roomates).
1) For getting an ipaddress and settings from my ISPs dhcp server

dhcpcd eth1

2) To share my internet connection

iptables -P FORWARD ACCEPT
iptables -t nat -A POSTROUTING -o eth1 -j MASQUERADE
echo 1 > /proc/sys/net/ipv4/ip_forward

Originally Posted by mannyslack you'll soon realize the true power of Slackware

I think, I will.

Originally Posted by manishsingh4u 1) For getting an ipaddress and settings from my ISPs dhcp server

/etc/rc.d/rc.local is the traditional place to put 'extra' scripts.
However, I would modify /etc/rc.d/rc.inet1.conf for your dhcp and other card specific settings.
Example:

# Config information for eth1:
IPADDR[1]=""
NETMASK[1]=""
USE_DHCP[1]="yes"
DHCP_HOSTNAME[1]=""

As for part 2:
The iptables script can still go in rc.local, or create a rc.firewall script in /etc/rc.d/ and make it executable.

Originally Posted by manishsingh4u dhcpcd eth1

See /etc/rc.d/rc.inet1.conf . You have to set USE_DhcP[1] to "yes". Also fill in your hostname for DHCP_REQUESTs.

Originally Posted by manishsingh4u iptables -P FORWARD ACCEPT iptables -t nat -A POSTROUTING -o eth1 -j MASQUERADE echo 1 > /proc/sys/net/ipv4/ip_forward

Create /etc/rc.d/rc.firewall shell script and put your code inside. Also don't forget to make it executable.

Originally Posted by manishsingh4u But, it kept on pinching me that I failed to make Slackware work. So, I gave it another try yesterday.

Muahahaha...

Another vic^H^H^H user in the Slackware base.

Try using another distro. Go on. I dare ya. "You can check out anytime you like, but you can NEVER leave..."

Muahahahahahaha