The newest Xorg should automagically identify your graphics card and set-up X windows with little or no intervention on your part. When you get to the part of the install that asks you to set-up your network skip that part. After the install I would install wicd which is in /extra. Wicd is very good at detecting, setting up a wireless connection.

Of course, as a very basic test I usually run a iwconfig just to make sure that the card is actually being used. If a wlan0 doesn't show up and have wireless extensions then something is wrong.

Generally that indicates to me that the kernel doesn't recognize the hardware and perhaps I would need to look into madwifi or ndiswrapper or even check to see if the manufacturer has their own Linux driver.

I haven't used those in years now though anyway. The last time I bought a wireless card I checked for compatibility first.

quick question
 

Do I need anything from category D, Program Development Tools, if I'm just going to be a plain vanilla user?

TIA.

I believe that you would need some of those tools to build slackbuilds packages.

Also, if you end up trying to get any tools off of other sites it may become necessary. Often times you will find a .deb or a .rpm prebuilt on a site but very often I end up having to build from source for Slackware.

If you are happy with what is included on the Slackware cd's then you would be fine.

Failed :-( Video card hell
 

I printed out the installation HOWTO from disc 1 and read it a couple of times. I had it next to the antique lappy as I did the install so I could reference it.

Nothing I do can get the video card going. I'm going to open a separate thread in the Slacker Installation Forum rather than pursue the problem in this thread.