Christopher R Laughman wrote:
it is then able to start X with a 1280x1400 (or whatever it is) resolution, but the mouse doesn't work whatsoever. the information for the monitor and the video card is correct in the XF86 config file; the mouse i have is a 2 button Trekker, which has always worked in redhat when i specified "random 2-button ps/2 mouse."
Section "InputDevice" Identifier "Mouse1" Driver "mouse" Option "Protocol" "Microsoft" Option "Device" "/dev/psaux" Option "Emulate3Buttons" EndSection
Assuming you don't have gpm installed (which is the console mouse driver, as opposed to the mouse driver for X, and which complicates the answer), the issue is almost certainly the protocol. Instead of "Microsoft", try "PS/2".
-- Kent