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Slackware 8.1 has XFree98 4.2.0 which no longer uses individual binary X 
servers such as XF86_SVGA.  (Though Xvesa and Xfbdev are still provided).

Instead, there is a universal binary XFree86 (still in /usr/X11R6/bin) and 
a collection of driver modules which  are supposed to work with any 
operating system (hopefully also with any kernel so I won't need to 
recompile to work with the kernels I compiled using gcc 2.95.3).
neomagic_drv.o and savage_drv.o, for instance.

The module is supposed to load automatically once you set up XF86Config 
properly, using x86config, or the new tool xf86cfg, or XFree86 
-configure.  The first of these is difficult and time consuming to use and 
I have not tried the other two methods.  Steven's XF86Config (modified for 
higher resolutions) has worked fine with XFree86 3.*

You need the 13MB base packages for xfree86-4.2.0.  (I got it at the 
library using a wired network card - they have two rooms where you can 
plug into an ethernet port instead of using wireless, to get a faster and 
more stable download.  A wireless download was corrupt).

Neo and Savage mx/ix do not work with Xvesa.  Neomagic works with the SVGA 
driver but the Savage does not. Neomagic also works with svgalib neo 
driver.  The Savage does not work with svgalib savage driver (at least not 
the version I compiled).  Both work with Xfbdev server but Abiword does 
not work with Xfbdev.  Framebuffer support is helpful on both laptops to 
get full-screen nice looking text and more of it.

Xfree86 3.* savage driver does not include Savage ms/ix.
XFree86 4.0.2 and later include the driver.

Therefore to use Abiword in BL2 I need to switch to this new XFree86.

I extracted XFree86 and neo_drv.o to the proper locations and typed 
XFree86 and got an error message about '"Rgbpath" is not a valid keyword'
and I need to reconfigure XF86Config (Steven's no-xvesa small version).
Steven, can you please investigate this matter and provide a small 
XF86Config usable with XFree86 4, in order to support more older hardware?
The chip in question is now 10 years old (Toshiba Satellite Pro 4200 
series, with 1024 resolution LCD).

I will attempt to use the new tools myself.  xf86config and XFree86 
-configure (after backing up the old XF86Config).

Sindi