Couple problems...
 

Ok first of all, I'm a newbie, to both Linux and Slackware. I've got most of my stuff configured how I want it, but have just 3 problems (I've been searching for answers for about a week now):

1) I'm using a laptop (Compaq Presario 1200XL-111), and the trackpad mouse works fine, but when I plug in an external USB mouse it doesn't work (the mouse is recognized at boot, however).

2) I'd like KDE to automount my cd's when I put them in, but not open the folder. And even when I manually mount them as root, the icon doesn't appear on the desktop (even though I have the settings in such a way that it should). Then, the problem is with permissions (everything owned by root).

3) My sound doesn't work!!! If I choose ALSA, it just gives error messages all over, so what should I do?

All of these things worked fine in RedHat, so I know the computer is capable...(but I HATE RedHat for various reasons) Any help would be greatly appreciated!

And my laptop is not on the linux-laptops site...

EDIT: added type of laptop

with the mouse problem, the only way you are going to get it to work is by restarting X. as for the others, i'm not sure.

I don't know what you're trying with kde. Are you using kwikdisk? If you are, I thought it had options to open or not open the directory in konqueror. Also, if you edit /etc/fstab, you can have normal users mount and unmount a cdrom - add the option user, or users, to the entry.

I have restarted not only X, but the whole computer too. I've added the option "user" to my /etc/fstab too...

so you've added the user option but you cannot mount it as a normal user? If you mount it as root, then root is going to own the files on it - actually, it depends on the file system on the CD.

All I know for making ALSA work is to do 'alsamixer' and unmute stuff - or use rexima when alsamixer acts a little screwy *g* - and then use 'alsactl store', but that last is only for reboots. The other possibility is that you did a selective install and missed stuff. Or RH was using something other than ALSA and your card and ALSA don't get along. Specific error messages will help others help you, though they probably won't help me to help you any. :)

And I'm willfully KDE-clueless. Sorry, there.

Oh, and as far as the mouse, poke around /etc and see if the /etc/hotplug directory has anything for you. You probably do need to do like Zerodark says, though.

You didn't write:
Which distribution do you use?
Which sound card have you got?
Never mind, just have a look into documentation if your sound card is supported by particular ALSA package... (/usr/doc/alsa-driver-0.9.6/doc/SOUNDCARDS)...
If it isn't supported try to look for new version at http://www.alsa-project.org... and follow install instrucions.
Don't forget to set up sound card by 'alsamixer' or 'aumix' ... then save the configuration by 'alsactl store' ... ;-)

Ok I got the sound working (thanks digiot!!!)! Also, my user can mount cd's, but they still don't appear mounted on the desktop (that, I can deal with). Now I'm gonna work on the mouse....

Thanks again to all of you for your quick and helpful responses - yet another reason why Linux rules (great community)!

for the mouse, I don't remember EXACTLY what I did to get it to work (I also have a trackpad, usb-mouse config) but I remember I had to edit the settings for X (ie: XFree86Config or etc)

I found the answer on this board so I know its here somewhere :D