My APM-enabled kernel compile isn't working well...

[Jerome Mrozak <goose@enteract.com>]

I wish to use the Stormix (hail 2.00) distribution on my ThinkPad 1412. 
Everything installs OK, but the kernel doesn't have APM enabled.  Aha, I
say, what about the Debian Potato 2.2.17 kernel?  If I install that I
get the message "APM enabled ..." followed by "APM disabled by request".

Question #1:  If I can use this kernel but configure *something* to keep
APM enabled, I'd probably use the kernel.  What can I configure?

So I have this hail distribution and decide to compile.  I install
kernel-source-2.2.16-storm, kernel-header-2.2.16-storm, kernel-package
and pcmcia-cs .deb packages, along with bin86 and ncurses (so I can use
make xconfig).  I configure my kernel for:
ENABLE APM
ENABLE APM using BIOS to POWER-DOWN
ENABLE FAT, MS-DOS, VFAT file systems
ENABLE PARALLEL PORT

I then make dep, make-kpkg clean, make-kpkg kernel_image, make-kpkg
modules, make-kpkg modules_image.

Now I believe I am ready to install.  If I run:

dpkg -i ../kernel-sou*deb

I get a complaint about interference with the existing pcmcia modules. 
So I decide to run the command with dpkg --force-conflicts -i
../kernel-sou*deb.

If i leave things at that, the dpkg complains that my kernel and modules
don't match.  Sure enough, when I reboot I get a lot of unresolved
dependencies.  So I dpkg install the modules.  

(dpkg complains that I should move the current /lib/modules to a safe
place, but I haven't had any satisfaction whether I keep the modules and
overwrite them or move them all.)

So I install the pcmcia*deb and halt the computer.  Well,  even though
APM is working (according to dmesg) the machine doesn't turn off
automatically.  apm works ok, but it won't automatically power down
(BTW, many other distros do power this laptop down, so it is my
configuration, not the computer).

Upon rebooting, all of the dependencies are gone except for the parallel
port (parport*.o) complaint.

Question #2:  What is wrong with my modules compiling?

Question #3:  Why won't my laptop power down upon shutdown?  Or rather,
what must I do to make this happen?

Thanks a lot.  I gotta have APM going or the Debian-based distros don't
help me.

Jerome.
-- 
Jerome Mrozak          "Never buy a dog and bark for yourself"
goose@enteract.com     --"Slippery" Jim DiGriz
                         (the Stainless Steel Rat)