I've had this problem with slack 10.1 and 10.2, both are doing the same thing. My machine is a Toshiba 3100, 366MHz Celeron with 384MB RAM and 20GB HDD.

I can install and run fine on the command line until I run gpm (configured for IMPS) then my system locks up. Similarly, I can run X (in any flavor WM) and the system also locks up. I'm certain this is due to the USB mouse, I had no problems with my PS/2 mouse (that died). This lockup is complete, the only way to recover is hard boot. Also there is nothing in the system logs to indicate any problem. I can also comment out the input device entries in xorg.conf for the mouse and X works fine, just a little bit tedious to use...

I've not modified the kernel, I'm running bare.i from the 10.2 iso. Come to think of it, this kernel worked fine on a different MB with the same USB mouse. Hmm.

I've also checked the BIOS, the USB is configured even to allow keyboard in DOS mode and Plug & Pray has been turned off as well (actually this doesn't make any difference whether it's on or off).

Any ideas on what to check? I would like to be able to run X again.

Does usb work in windows if it does then it may not be a hardware problem. try a few live cds to see how it goes. you can always use a usb to ps2 adapter.

You know, now that you mentioned it I forgot to say that the mouse works fine in windows and I've also used Knoppix Live CD and I think that works okay too (now I don't remember I'll check again when I get home).