Keyboard & Mouse wont work after kernel upgrade

[steven at heimann.com.au]

I have been trying Ubuntu Linux for one of the office staff at work and on
my wifes computer at home.  The work system is going well but I have had
trouble with my wife's system.  ( I have had to switch from Firefox to
Mozilla to get internet banking to work for both of them )

My wife wants to run something called Precision Performance software
(Windows) which talks to her heart rate monitor.  I tried Crossover which
was able to run the software but could not get it to talk irda to the
watch.   So I am trying VMware.

To get VMware to install I have had to upgrade the kernel as I was getting
mismatches of the linux headers and the kernel when vmware tried to compile
its modules.  I think the default was 2.6.8.1-2.  I have tried
2.6.8.1-3-386 and 2.6.8.1-3-686.  The system boots fine but I can not get
any response from the keyboard or mouse.  I can ssh to the box and all
works fine.

I think I installed the kernel image, and the linux-headers.

I have looked at dmesg and can not see any problems with the keyboard or
mouse.  When I boot to the 2.6.1.8-2 kernel it all works again.

Can anyone suggest what to try next.

Steven