Kernel Differences Woes

[Rod Haper]

Okay, let me try this again by restating my problem in a little 
different way.

I have a generic AMD Athlon XP, VIA chipset mainboard based system that 
will boot FC4 and run just fine with the FC4 baseline 2.6.11-1.1369_FC4 
stock kernel but when I boot the updated 2.6.16-1.2111_FC4 stock kernel 
it fails to include some of the hardware devices like the ethernet 
interface, USB mouse, etc.  The same problem occurs with the FC5 
baseline stock kernel.  What is different in the two stock kernels that 
could be causing this problem and, more importantly, what can I do to 
fix the problem?

I also have a Dell Inspiron 8100 laptop that has similar problems.  It 
will boot and run the FC4 baseline 2.6.11-1.1369_FC4 stock kernel and 
kernels through the early 1400 builds but for all following stock kernel 
updates the PCMCIA ethernet device is not included.

-- 
Rod