ok gurus, here is where I am at:

latest kernel-2.4.22 compile using config from 2.4.18-bf2.4

in kernel 2.4.18-bf2.4 the usb mouse works perfectly.
lsmod shows:

Module Size Used by Tainted: P
mousedev 3744 1
usbmouse 1760 0 (unused)
hid 18784 0 (unused)
usb-uhci 20676 0 (unused)
usbcore 48000 1 [usbmouse hid usb-uhci]
keybdev 1664 0 (unused)
input 3040 0 [mousedev usbmouse hid keybdev]

if i disconnect and then reconnect mouse it appears in messages as:
Sep 12 14:47:17 zeus kernel: usb.c: USB disconnect on device 2
Sep 12 14:47:20 zeus kernel: hub.c: USB new device connect on bus1/1, assigned device number 3
Sep 12 14:47:20 zeus kernel: input0: USB HID v1.10 Mouse [Logitech Logitech] on usb1:3.0


in kermel 2.4.22 lsmod shows:

Module Size Used by Not tainted
mousedev 3864 1
usbmouse 1820 0 (unused)
hid 16708 0 (unused)
usb-uhci 21996 0 (unused)
usbcore 58464 1 [usbmouse hid usb-uhci]
keybdev 1696 0 (unused)
input 3456 0 [mousedev usbmouse keybdev]

if i disconnect and then reconnect mouse it appears in messages as:
Sep 12 14:38:23 zeus kernel: usb.c: USB disconnect on device 00:1d.0-1 address 3
Sep 12 14:38:25 zeus kernel: hub.c: new USB device 00:1d.0-1, assigned address 4
Sep 12 14:38:25 zeus kernel: hiddev0: USB HID v1.10 Mouse [Logitech USB Optical Mouse] on usb1:4.0

From this I can see that in the working kernel the last line shows that input0 is picking up the mouse whereas the non working kernel shows hiddev0 picking up the mouse.

when compiling the new kernel if i select all of the hid options I get this result:
drivers/usb/usbdrv.o(.text+0xeaf5): In function `hidinput_hid_event':
: undefined reference to `input_event'
drivers/usb/usbdrv.o(.text+0xeb6e): In function `hidinput_hid_event':
: undefined reference to `input_event'
drivers/usb/usbdrv.o(.text+0xeb80): In function `hidinput_hid_event':
: undefined reference to `input_event'
drivers/usb/usbdrv.o(.text+0xebc5): In function `hidinput_hid_event':
: undefined reference to `input_event'
drivers/usb/usbdrv.o(.text+0xebe8): In function `hidinput_hid_event':
: undefined reference to `input_event'
drivers/usb/usbdrv.o(.text+0xec0a): more undefined references to `input_event' follow
drivers/usb/usbdrv.o(.text+0xeed3): In function `hidinput_connect':
: undefined reference to `input_register_device'
drivers/usb/usbdrv.o(.text+0xef31): In function `hidinput_connect':
: undefined reference to `input_register_device'
drivers/usb/usbdrv.o(.text+0xef65): In function `hidinput_disconnect':
: undefined reference to `input_unregister_device'
make: *** [vmlinux] Error 1

If I build the kernel without HID input layer support I do not get this message.
from this I am guessing that HID input layer support is what I need to make the mouse work.

how do I go about fixing this?!!

or is it a problem with the kernel sources (which I kinda doubt)

there is a unmarked dependancy somewhere in the hid/input code its been there for the last few kernels, i meant to report it but forgot, anyway if you enable all the hid stuff other than hiddev and you enable mouse keyboard and joystick support it should be ok. if its not we can compare .config files

Ahhhhhh!
that could explain it! will give it a whirl...

cheers for the pointer!

yup! thats fixed it!

thx mulchly!

Thank you very much, kev82!

I enabled all of the HID options and still got the same error. Where is this config file that you speak of?

In the kernel configuration, USB support, and the disable the /dev/hiddev. That's what I did.

this is from memory as im not infront of a linux machine at the moment but i think you need mouse, keybd, joystk from input core support and the usb hid options but you dont need hiddev. i'll have a look later and send you my .config file if that doesnt work.