This is probably super-basic, but this is my first "testing" kernel... I usually go after the precompiled packages, but I like 2.6 too much to wait. Anyway, I upgraded from the stock Fedora Core1 2.4 kernel which loads ext3 as a module. If I try that in 2.6 I get a kernel panic, so I built it into the kernel and everything is happy. During boot, however, the kernel still tries to load ext3.o as a module and yells at me. Along the same line, I can't get evdev to load early enough in the boot to let my synaptics touchpad load in time to allow a GUI startup screen...

So my first question is, how do I edit which modules are loaded with the kernel? Thus far I've just stuck a 'modprobe' or 'insmod' into rc.sysinit for each device I wish to load (sound, touchpad, etc.) but that loads too late in the bootup.

Related to that, with the loss of "make dep" I can't make a new initrd, so I'm using the 2.4 kernel's initrd... This wouldn't be a big deal, but without deps I am unable to compile a few things (like my precious NVidia drivers). What I really don't get is why I need initrd at all if I'm not loading ext3 as a module..?

I've asked these questions on Fedora boards and lists, but no one seems to know the answer, so TIA to whomever takes the time to point me in right direction.