I have loaded CentOS 5 on an HP Compaq nc6400 with a Core 2 Duo. The system has WinXP on the internal drive and CentOS on a hardrive in the Multibay.

The problem is that when you try to reboot, the reboot process takes a good bit longer to get to the point where I have an option to select F9 for boot menu or F10 for Setup, but I can't select either option. The keyboard appears to be locked out. Also if I shutdown after running CentOS 5, I still have the problem, but in addition, I can't enter the Hardrive password. That's why I think it's a messed up Keyboard controller. The fix seems to be pulling the battery and A/C charger for about 10 seconds. Then I'm back to normal, until I boot CentOS 5 again.

Anyone else seen something like this? It doesn't happen with Ubuntu 7.04.

Jim A

CENTOS contains older kernels that Ubuntu 7.04 and as your hardware is relatively new this problem is happening. One possibility is for you to install your OWN kernel...

I have a Compaq nx9420 that worked perfectly with SLED.
I just installed CentOS 5 and I'm having the same issue
you describe.

The only pointer I could find is that the psmouse module
might need to be removed at shutdown. I included
"modprobe -r psmouse" in /sbin/halt.local and tried it.
No luck.

I'm subscribing to this thread. If you find an answer,
please post it!

I found the answer. I needed to compile a kernel with
psmouse as a module. There are instructions for compiling
a kernel for CentOS 5 on their website. Follow the
instructions up to the point of selecting a config file.
Copy the /boot config file, run make oldconfig, run make
menuconfig, change PSMOUSE from Y to M, then save and
quit. Keep following the instructions.

Once the rpm files are created, install them. Include
"modprobe -r psmouse" in /sbin/halt.local and the
computer will start normally in the future.