i was installing slackware 9.1 and xfs.s was the only kernell that booted also i was offered only ext2 and xfs filesystems while installing.i was under the impression the i have an ide hard disk,so why did only xfs.s boot.also bare.i ,when booting stopped at usb detection and ended with 'Code:bad eip value'.anyway i installed linux on xfs filesystem and now xfce does not load and error message goes something like /dev/mouse not detected,no such device.i have a via chipset.help!

i have this problem to, when booting the bare.i. I just unplug my usb stuff, mouse and speakers, go through setup. reboot and plug my usb stuff back in and everything works.

installing.i
xfs.s
boot.also
bare.i
device.i
chipset.help

I'm confused....

Anyway, I had a problem with a USB keyboard when installing slack. I unplugged it and used a PS/2 style keyboard and started over. There is probably a way to awaken USB at the initial install of slack, but I don't know what it is. Fat lot of help that was, eh?

yea, i know. ive tried some of the other boot kernels but either they dont have the stuff i need or they dont work with my usb ... maybe its trying to load the wrong usb controller or something cause it is starting. If you watch the boot when booting from the bare.i it will say detecting usb then something about cant find any usb devices turning off usb. but if you have usb connected to it. It says that it found stuff then gives that error with all the
[adsfadsfasd][asdfasdf][adfdasf] type error msg. My guess is that its loading the wrong uhci, ohci, or usb-uhci driver and when it tried to communicate using the wrong driver, it dies on us. so probably just rebuild the bare.i kernel on the cd omitting the ohci and uhci drivers and rewrite the cd...but i think its easier just to unplug my 2 usb devices.

I do not have details how you compliled the kernel, but it seems you forgot configure properly the USB HID.
Try have a look to your .config file and change activating the HID support, at least for the mouse
Ciao