First off, I'm a noob to much of linux, but I've looked around and installed several distos, and I have never had a problem with my NICs getting detected before now.
But for some reason, when I install Slack 9.1 now, it simply doesn't see my cards (either of 'em). I've installed slack 9.1 before on this same comp with the exact same hardware and had it pick up a NIC with no problems, I haven't a clue what's changed.

both my cards are 3Com 3C905B-TX, I know there's nothing wrong with the cards themselves because they both work fine under windows.

Thanks in advance for your help, I'm at a loss here.

hi ^^
doesn't it show up when you type `ifconfig` ?
try if
`modprobe 3c59x`
helps...
you can setup basic network options with
`netconfig`

did you turn hotplug on during this install? if not then you have a choice, you can turn it on or go to /etc/rc.d/rc.modules and uncomment the line pertaiing to your driver.

modprobe 3c59x doesn't do anything

I turned hotplug on during the install, but I went back and uncommented that line anyway, and it still doesn't pick 'em up.

both cards are visible if I type lspci I can see both of 'em...
Ethernet controller: 3Com Corporation 3c905B 100BaseTX [Cyclone] (rev 30)
Ethernet controller: 3Com Corporation 3c905B 100BaseTX [Cyclone] (rev 30)
how do I make them eth0 and eth1?

Post the following:
ifconfig-a
lsmod
type dmesg | grep eth* and post this

Did you try running netconfig again?