keyboard generates no response

[Jonathan Coe <jbc28@phy.cam.ac.uk>]

I'm trying to get a 2.4-18 kernel installed on my DELL Dimension 8250.
When I've chosen the kernel I want (bf24) everything starts up but when I
come to the screen explaining what's going to happen I can't use the
keyboard to select OK, what's more the num-lock and caps-lock keys don't
work.

This doesn't seem to be a problem if I install Debian using a 2.2 kernel.
I'm not at all experienced at installing kernels and while I understand
that I could build a 2.4 kernel from my working 2.2 kernel, I wondered if
there was another way. Incidentally Mandrake 9.0, which uses a 2.4-19
kernel doesn't have any such problems, though the rescue CD supplied with
Mdk9.0 similarly leaves the keyboard non-responsive.

Thanks for your time and for any help you can offer

best wishes,

Jonathan Coe