I've beent attempting to get kernel 2.6.4 running on my 1997 gateway solo 5100. After reading everthing I can find, I finally got it to boot up.
When it boots, I get the USB mouse and keyboard errors (i've read how to correct these, I just slow). What I can't get working is Nautilus, and Gnome desktop. Oh, I forgot to add I'm upgrading from Redhat 9. Nautilus gives an error 1. and aborts. If I get these running I need to move on to the infamous RTL810 wifi card.


Suggestions for me to try? (rm -fr* not acceptable).

Well, for some real help please try to recreate the error, and post the error messages.

After I reboot and login, the screen flashes /home/jwspring about 6 times and stops. No error messages recieved. My gnome start screen only has the rehat start menu at the bottom of screen.

OK ok, it seems like maybe you have specified (OR NOT) incorrect settings for the Xserver UI.
And fixing this may or may not fix the redhat menu being the only thing displayed.
I would say that though is an incomplete installation.

see if you can get to a terminal from the gnome redhat menu, and type redhat-config-xfree86

to change your DPI and resolution to a lower setting.

if not you will need to manually edit /etc/X11/XF86Config file manually.

This should fix the flashing problem.

I do not understand why nautilus isnt working.
On my system nautilus starts automatically when the Xserver is invoked.