I just got my slackware system running, and now I'm trying to configure all of my hardware to work. So here are my questions:

1. What does compiling a custom kernel do?

2. When I compile a kernel, will this make my ethernet and wireless cards work, and make my volume up down and mute buttons work (its a laptop and has them on the side)?

3. I want to use Gnome, but it wasnt listed when I set up X, did it install and I just didnt see it? or do I need to install it myself? (I did the full install)

4. When I was using Suse, I had to use ndiswrapper to get my wireless card (BCM4306) to work, am I going to need to do this on slackware too?

5. Is there a good reference site that will teach me how to do all this stuff so I dont have to keep bugging you forum guys? I am already going to slackbook.org, but most of the time that leaves me more confused then when I started reading it (I am a total noob).

6. My laptop is a HP Pavilion ZE5600, where can I go to find out what hardware it has in it (so I know what I'm trying to configure)?

Sorry for the long list.

Thanks

-Stew

1. Compiling a custom kernel will allow you to include options for your hardware that were not automatically picked up or included in the default kernel configuration that comes with Slackware.

2. If your hardware is compatibile, and you compile it into the kernel or as a module, yes.

3. Gnome is no longer packaged with Slackware. Check out the freerock or dropline projects to install Gnome on Slackware.

4. Most likely you will still need ndiswrapper. Your wireless card not being detected is not a distribution issue, it is a kernel issue.

5. Check out slackwiki.org and on IRC at ##slackware on irc.freenode.net

6. Check out linux-laptop.net. Also, use command line tools like "lspci" and "dmesg" - lspci will show you some useful information about your hardware.

Hope this helps.

one more quick question:

Do I need get my network cards working before I compile a new kernel or should I go ahead and compile it now?

No, you don't need functioning network cards to compile a new kernel (unless you need to download it or are doing the compilation remotely of course).
Don't your network cards work with your current kernel?

I just got my ethernet card working (it didnt find it when I installed).

well atleast it feels nice to have someone else in the same problem... i have a BCM 4306 also and its giving me nothing but problems.

You don't have to use NDISWrapper - you could use the bcm43xx module in 2.6 kernels.

As stickied on this forums, check this site out:

http://shilo.is-a-geek.com/slack/

it pretty much gives the base steps on how to do most things, including compiling a new kernel, and installing dropline gnome.

I've also listed a few links to help with installing wireless drivers here (click on linux, scroll down a page or two)

http://www.newio.team-ava.org/site/