I can run X ok and startkde, but I need kdm to provide user logins a la kde.
A line in /etc/init.d/kdm features the debug level. I uncommented this and now kdm presents a login fine (irrespective of kernel), but very, very slowly.
But - wait for it - I re-commented the bebug line and kdm still works, and still very, very slowly. Strange !
At least I am making progress. Thanks for a super system. Joe