LinuxQuestions.org - Redhat 9 on Acer aspire 1700

Hi u all!
I am new to this forum and I never posted a message before. (I always searched with google to find solutions).
I am trying to get my laptop (Acer aspire 1700 model Aspire1705SCi) to run with Redhat 9.
It contains a SIS M650 Chipset, this is where the nightmare starts.
This is what I did so far (the most successful approach so far)
1) downloaded the 2.4.22 kernel from kernel.org
2.) getting the ac-4 patch for the kernel 2.4.22
3.) untaring and applying the kernel patch
4.) downloading the sisfb and driver from winischhofers website
5.)installing his version of the sisfb in the kernel source tree
6.)after running make clean reconfigure the config starting with the redhat config file
for i686-bigmemory (I sticked another 512 mb RAM into the box)
7.)continuing the configuration with make menuconfig and with the help of the 'kernel compile How To' and wischhofers install instructions
8.)Compilation and install works fine, I can even boot the new kernel (it boots cleaner than the original 2.4.20-8 version from Redhat!)

But now comes the down turn:I switch the vesa console off in the config, but when reviewing the dmesg, the kernel won#t even recognise the SIS M650 chipset. (It does it with the original Redhat kernel 2.4.20-8).
When configuring the XF86.config (no matter what I write in there) it always reconfigure it with a generic vesa driver which make the whole machine to a slow duck!
So I must do something wrong or I am missing something!
I would really appreciate any suggestions or help!
Thanks!!!