I've reently been muching around with the new 2.6 test kernels with sucess for the most part, but there are some questions I do have pertaining to compiling and installing new kernels.

#1 If my video card is listed in the Framebuffer mode, do I as well need to include support for generic VGA?

#2 modules vs. direct kernel support. this is the biggie for me. I notice when I did the knoppix HD install it loads most of my hardware via modules. When I recompile the 2.6 kernels I try to stay away from modules and just check things I know my machine has. Is this a good or a bad practice? What are the advantages/disadvantages of modules vs hardcoded support? The only snafu I have run into with compiling built in support has been with my old school Micrsoft Intellimouse. The default knoppix install loads it as a module and the wheel button works fine, however when compiling it directly into the kernel the mouse works fine except for the wheel button (even after tinkering with Xfree86 config). I'm guessing that the module may be more configurable but as I've said I haven't had much experience with modules.

And on the subject of modules and compiling them.... does make-kpkg take into account modules configured for the kernel, or does one as well have to do a make modules for debian installs as well?

I used this site as a guide for helping me install and compile the kernel

http://www.osnews.com/story.php?news_id=2949&page=1

but it says little about modules.

any help would be appreciated