OK, here is what I'm currently dealing with.
I'm running Slack 10 kernel version 2.4.26 (I know I need to do a kernel update but havn't a clue how) on an alienware 51m laptop version 766.
I'm trying to get the touchpad and USB mouse working (ideally) or at least just the USB mouse. My friend helped me get it running before and then had me alter the rc.modules file and uncomment some code in the usb section. Now when I boot the usb mouse once again doesn't work. I remember him doing something with the commands "uhci" or "ohci" and the command "dmesg". Honestly I have no idea what these commands mean and he refuses to tell me. This is my first time on a linux system and although I am enjoying the challenge it is really nerve racking. He keeps telling me to look in the documentation under vi while in the command line but I then become stuck, because he refuses to tell me how to get out of vi while running without x. I know he means well but this is like telling a baby to run before it can crawl. So please be patient with me when explaining things, I'll probably have a lot of questions. Also if this question has appeared before I'm sorry, I did a "search" in the forums and didn't come up with this particular query (I came up with a lot of usb mouse problems, but none where /proc/bus/usb didn't exist). It should also be noted that hotplug is currently disabled. He had me remove the code for it so the system would function properly. If anyone could help me get hotplug running that would also be nice.
Thank you very much,
Alex


/EDIT/.

Well I got the usb working by modprobing usb-ohci and modprobing hid
However, hotplug still doesn't function.
Any help with hotplug would make me quite happy.
Thank you,
Alex
/EDIT/

First thing I would check is making sure that the Hotplug script is marked as executable.

From a command prompt, change to the /etc/rc.d directory by issuing

cd /etc/rc.d

and then list the rc.hotplug file using

ls -al rc.hotplug

If it's not marked as executable (the absence of the 'x' in the first set of permission settings should tell you this), then you'll need to mark it as executable.

First, change to the root user by issuing

su

and then typing in the root password at the prompt. Then issue the command

chmod u+x /etc/rc.d/rc.hotplug

Reissue the "ls -al" command from above and you should see an 'x' now in the permission bits. At this point you should be able to reboot and the Hotplug script should run.

Ok I remembered what it was.
when rc.hotplug is set to chmod +x the system will not boot, it hangs on
"Activating Hardware Detection: /etc/rc.d/rc.hotplug start" it beeps once and hangs. I have waited up to 20 minutes. Nothing happens. That is why did I chmod -x rc.hotplug.
Thanks for jogging my memory.

I'm not too familiar with slack; but I have a couple of suggestions that may help you in general...

See if you have 'mc' installed. (midnight commander, a file & directory manager that has an editor in it.)
My personal feelings are that we newbies HAVE to be masochistic to use vi!

In all instances do not type the quotes when actually entering the commands. (without the quotes)

At the command line type 'mc',if mc comes up you will find it useful to set some configs;
'F9', 'options', 'configuration'; 'Alt-d', mark all boxes in 'Other Options', 'Alt-s.' Now the 'right-left-arrow' will take you in and out of directories on the tree. When you have the file focused/hi-lited you want to edit, 'F4' brings up the editor. (cool-edit)

Another little tip; typing 'whereis mc' should tell you if there is a presence.

Ever get 'writer's block', your mind goes blank and you can't think of the command you need to use? Try tapping the 'tab' a couple of times!

The program/script/command 'dmesg' runs during boot and gives us a log of most of what transpires during the initial boot process. From the command line just enter 'dmesg' (without the quotes) and it should fill your screen. (use 'shift'-'pageup'/'pagedown' to scroll back & forth)

In case you don't have 'mc' (YET!!!) see if you have 'nano', a small editor that is user friendly.

Looks like you are coming along just fine... hang in there and before long you'll have the hang of it.
The BEST thing I've learned about linux... don't matter what distro, there is most always light at the end of the tunnel... what you learn as you go along you can use always... where-as with Brand-X WinDOS there is just tunnel and MORE TUNNEL! (If you COULD, it would be illegal to fix a bug in THEIR operating system.)

hth