Install Fails / Failsafe works but mouse doesn't load?

[cerestes]

Trying to install knoppix (live cd) on a compaq laptop.

If I try just a standard install, it says:
Enabling DMA acceleration for: hda [ST94019A]
Enabling DMA acceleration for: hdc [HL-DT-STCD-RW/DVD DRIVE GCC-4244N]
Looking for CD in: /dev/hdc

At this point, it stops responding / sits forever.

When I boot in failsafe, it ends up getting to the GUI.
During the boot process, it finds the laptop's touchpad:
Mouse is: SynPS/2 Touchpad Synaptics Touchpad at /dev/input/mice.
However, once into the GUI, it doesn't respond to either motion or button presses.

Inserting a USB mouse (before/during/after boot) never responds.
Infact, the usb mouse is 'on' (laser active) until it starts to boot, then shuts off.

Any suggestions?

[cerestes]

I'm not sure why this got moved to HDD Install.
I might not have been clear, but i'm not trying to install anything to the HDD.

I'm just popping the cd in and trying to boot. It fails as mentioned below, unless in failsafe.
When in failsafe, I have no USB support or mouse.

Heck, any commands after booted that I can just activate the USB ports and or reactivate the mouse?

[cerestes]

Found a random website that listed what failsafe actually does:
knoppix vga=normal noapic noscsi nodma noapm nousb nopcmcia nofirewire noagp nodhcp xmodule=vesa

Was able to boot using the above, but removing nousb, nodhcp, and nopcmcia.
Booting now, but it looks like its working.

[murdrav]

I had something like that with hard drive install

try modprobe usbhid

you may have to type su first.

IE become superuser (Administrator) and then activate usb input devices including mouse.